1 year-almost!

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

It has been almost a year ago that I sat down and got everything organized to start my journey with Sparkpeople. I bought scales, had some things in my studio to exercise, healthy food. I got up on Wednesday morning, weighed and begun an up and down ride of weight loss and healthier eating.
Most of it has been good. I got stronger in dealing with cravings, started really focusing on water intake, logged in and tracked everyday. I exercised approx 5 days a week. In the beginning I was lucky to do half hour..I worked my way up in intensity as well as time. I wasn't really shooting for time as a badge of honor as much as the fact that I was enjoying what I was doing and some days it would be 2 hours before I would finally call it quits.
I had a couple of deadlines to shoot for, just for motivation, a trip to New Zealand, the trip home to see my family and my wedding. By that time I had lost 35lbs. When I got back to Australia I ended up losing another 5 to finally bring my weight loss to 40lbs. Since then the scales have not budged..well they have, they have had a small creep upwards...since middle of March I have not been as motivated as I was. There are lots of factors contributing to this I know and I am not going to write them all here..they could be construed as excuses I guess..but it is not your typical things, alot of it has to do with subconscious emotions wreaking havoc on me.
All that aside, as I approach my one year anniversary as being active on SP ( I have been a member since 2006 but was never "active" until May 2012) I realize it is time to sit down and get that motivation from a year ago back. New goals in mind and still about 15lbs to lose.
I am studying to be a Group FItness instructor and hopefully after I am established in that career again I will move forward to being a Personal Trainer as well. I want to do both but I can also take my Group Fitness cert and do small group trainings, outside trainings etc which is also a goal and may precede the personal training thing for a while.
Either way, that alone should be my motivation..and mentally I tell myself that but when it comes time to buckle down, something is stopping me. That goal is more concrete than just looking good or feeling better...this could be and should be even more important as it is my life and my career at risk. I think a part of me is afraid of failure..I mean it is posted all over Facebook and has been on here several times about me training to be an instructor..that should be kicking me in the butt, but instead it is making me withdraw. In a lot of ways I am scared to take on this challenge. It is different than when I taught in America, I was younger and I eased into it, and well, it was in my home country with friends and family around for support.
Just trying to get a grasp on why, when I am so close to my goal, am I finding it hard to be motivated..this is a lifestyle change. forever..I am not viewing this as a diet, not sure why I am feeling this rebellion against it all. (now don't get me wrong I am NOT going nuts on un-healthy eating but not as clean as I was or want to be).
Ok, I will stop venting for now, need to go get some studying in and create a new workout calendar for half marathon training for August..maybe that will be a spot of inspiration!!!

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Recapping

Thursday, May 09, 2013

So I admit the past few weeks I have been quite slack on SP. I did write my May goals and trying to adhere to them but so far I have not been doing very well :(
Seeing some of my things that I had packed away brought back emotions I was not expecting and that coupled with a monthly visitor just sent my hormones and everything all out of whack.

Yesterday I finally shook it all off and moved on. I pulled out a BodyPump and RPM DVD and did them both. Funny thing is the Pump DVD was being presented, or taught, partially by Michelle Bridges who is the female trainer on Biggest Loser here in Oz and who I admire greatly. I knew she was certified in a few of the Les Mills programs but didn't know she had been a presenter too, pretty cool.
In my belongings as well were some "old school" fitness toys that I had got back from my mom and couldn't wait to get here..a slide for one...anyone remember those? We used them at our gym years ago, we were the only ones in the area to have them, unfortunately they were one of those fitness gadgets that never really took root. They are an amazing workout for the thighs, created as a way for speed skaters to train when they couldn't be on the ice. I did a few things on it the other day...the other old school toy that was actually re-introduced again a few years ago was a "thigh-master"..ha..Suzanne Somers used to be the spokesperson for it. It really is a great tool..it is good for more than just thigh squeezes, just another form of resistance training. Disappointed that I did not send my ab roller or my pilates ring..I could've swore they were both sent :( I did get my bodypump bar and weights though so that will really help with my strength training, I have some great weights anyway but these will compliment them.
I have not been running in 3.5 weeks. Unfortunately the half marathon that hubby and I had planned on doing will not be happening...we are going to the event though to do the 10k ,I have to go and meet, and cheer on a fellow SPer that is also a transplant here in Australia from the USA :)
We have already found another one to train for though, in August through downtown Adelaide, won't be as pretty as running through the vineyards but I will get in at least one half marathon this year!!!
I have to go get my First Aid/CPR training to move on in my Group Cert class. In the meantime I have continued studying but can't turn in any more tests until I get the cpr done. Studying the muscles, bones etc is pretty interesting..I mean a lot of I knew from last time I studied, but it is one of those things you "knew" but didn't retain it all. Once I get a little deeper in my study I will have to start taking classes at some gyms around town. I hope to complete this by June so I can start teaching in July.
One last thing and this will seem random but I shared it with my FB team so I will share it here..if you have ever thought about becoming a vegetarian or vegan here is a link to help you get started. Just one day a week can make a difference if you don't choose to do it full-time. I still do dairy and eggs but "try" to stay away from anything that was once a live or any products thereof.. it is hard at times and I do sway sometimes but overall I find it to be a very gratifying lifestyle:
peta.vg/1g3

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May Goals!?

Wednesday, May 01, 2013

I have been prompting my teams on here as well as a ladies fitness page that I run on FB to set their May goals...but I personally have not really set mine yet.
Reading over a SP Friends May goals I finally felt encouraged enough to sit down and think about what it is exactly I want to do for May!

1. Finish S90...it has basically kept me motivated and it is challenging but I am not feeling like I am getting the results I had hoped, but I did set the goal when I started that I WOULD complete the whole cycle and I do plan on doing that! (it really will end the first few days of June)

2. Start running again-been slacking the past couple of weeks and lost some motivation and need to get it back SOON!

3. This is a mini goal, for tonight actually (May 2nd) Get through the Step Class I have to teach!

4. Focus at least 2 hours a day-5 days a week on my Certification course for Group Fitness.

5. Use heavier weights

6. Join a gym (I have too to log classes for my certification-I honestly may just use free guest passes to several to get a better outlook on the fitness industry in Adelaide)

7. Still suffering from Carb addiction, I go through cycles of it and I need to break through it and get past it..I need to cut out the Processed Carbs COMPLETELY no small treats here and there...it doesn't work well for me!

8. Non fitness goal of getting all my stuff unpacked and organized!

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Environmental cleaning products

Sunday, April 28, 2013

I so thought this was worth the share, very compiled list of a few basic ingredients and how to use them/mix them to clean.
I use white vinegar in my laundry on my workout clothes, it is really great!!
I drink lemon juice in hot water every morning and many times will use the rest of the lemon to clean pots or my cutting board or sink.
Anyway, wanted to share:

greatist.com/health/27-chemical-free
-products-diy-spring-cleaning

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Biggest Loser Trainers

Thursday, April 18, 2013

So last Saturday the Biggest Loser Trainers from Australia were at a local mall. Hubby couldn't go because his son was playing A-Grade Footy for the first time and that is a HUGE deal!
I love the show and I just HAD to go,so I did in workout clothes as the ad said you could get to workout with them.
I got there about an hour and 15 mins early. Bought the newest book by Michelle Bridges (aka Aus version of Jillian Michaels) and found where to sign up for the workout.
The workout was about 15 mins of tabata type stuff. Jumping jax, burpees, squats , pushups etc...hard to do with about 70 people or so in a fairly tight space but still fun.
Got to meet them both and get autographs. I am not a star struck kind of person but it was still nice to meet them.
I represented the good ole USA with my shirt I had on as Commando read it and asked about it..so it was nice..so many people were there that we were kind of rushed through the line but it was still cool to meet them!

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