Workout Withdrawals

Ever experience a downward spiral when you are faced with a situation where you can't get a workout in, or perhaps aren't feeling well enough to do so? For me, once I'm off my schedule for 2 days, my thinking starts to change. I try to justify my lack of workouts and start allowing for missing more, or eating bad.

This past weekend I took a jaunt to NYC. I was busy with work before I left and some obligations forcing me to skip 2 work outs. Granted, I did a lot of walking in NYC (thank goodness), but it wasn't the same. I had also eaten poorly, and did something I normally don't do .... DESSERT! Oh that luscious sugar. I eat very little sugar normally. But I was "on vacation" - Almost immediately I noticed a change... I was letting my "excuses" for eating this way seep into my brain so that by the time I got home Sunday, it took EVERYTHING I had to convince myself to workout. And it was sloppy. My heart wasn't into it.
Next day (Monday), tried to get back into the swing of things with a morning workout - again SO sloppy - and that night, too, I was up late, ate sorbet and lots of sushi (plus Sake) I had gone to a concert.
So Tuesday happened... CRASH - I was tired, had been eating poorly, my workouts very blah - my attitude was in the toilet, I was angry, upset, and my schedule kept me from working out in the morning - and of course had no energy at night to do one either. I was fighting with people and was at my wits end. So upset. But I did go to bed extra early, had every intention of getting my schedule back in line. Something was definitely wrong.

Wednesday morning - I forced myself up and to do Get Lean Intervals w/Chalene Johnson - a pretty intensive internal training routine. She always has a way of making me motivated to get through it, even when I start out sluggish. Needless to say, here I am now, I feel great, more energy, better attitude. I realized something, my body likes my morning workout schedule; it likes to work hard. When I skip workouts, it sends all sorts of wrong signals in my body like a heroin addiction. I can't believe what a different perspective I have today!

Even though I did kinda blow it with my diet and exercise this week, I know its not going to impede my results as long as I get back on track.

Here's to a workout addiction! Can't say it's a bad addiction to have. It keeps me grounded and focused, and in my job/life - I need it!

I highly recommended Chalean Extreme workouts - http://www.beachbody.com/ce - Chalene Johnson is my hero! Thanks for the motivation! Muscle burns fat!

Shakeology Update

OK - quick one - I blended the chocolate shakeology with a banana. OMG - I officially fell in love!
What a wonderful yummy treat!

And holy moly - does it give you energy! I don't drink coffee, but I do a small cup of tea in the morning, so my intake of caffeine is minimal - but wow! After drinking my first shake last night for supper and then again this morning, I feel great! I still can't believe how quickly it made me feel energized and just generally fantastic.

My Shakeology Arrival

Not only is today my birthday, but today marked my trial of Shakeology! What a pleasant addition to my day, finding the box on my doorstep this afternoon! And to think that I might have considered eating something as bad as Chinese food for dinner (well it IS my birthday) - No, instead I have some kind of guardian health angel that KNOWS when I want to eat bad. SO anyway - he wins and I decided to immediately make a shake for supper. (I'm sure my husband would have much rather the Chinese food, but I'll make him a hot dog and he'll be happy)

I wanted a true test, not one of the "doctored" up recipe versions - I want to see if this shake really was going to tickle me where it counts. Ok well if it actually does that, then I might marry the shake (sorry hon!)

I have the Chocolate Flavor first (if I really dig the chocolate - then I'll get the greenberry too for fun... I mean - I can't not try it too right? ) So I pull out the blender, drop some ice, add my 8 oz water - my scoop of Shakeology - say my magical incantation (who doesn't?)... and viola - fun in a cup.

I must admit my first sip, I was like "hmmm, I can taste the earthy-ness, like chocolate grass". But it wasn't a bad earthyness and that taste actually subsided by the second sip. It has a deep cocoa taste, more toward a dark chocolate flavor rather than a typical sugary meal replacement chocolate shake. Ok so I like it... I REALLY like it. AND that's just the taste part of it.

I'm going to post the link to the ingredients of this shake. Its AMAZING! I can't believe all the nutrients and vitamins this has in it. It more than justifies the cost of it. At around $4.00 a day, it definately is the best and most complete (nutriously) thing you will put in your body all day. I'm soooo excited that I like it. Now I can't wait to report on the wonderful different recipes!

I've just finished the rest of the shake, and I feel satisfied. Its only 140 calories, but it reminds me of the Willy Wonka meal gum - the one that turned the girl into a blueberry blimp - getting all those nutrients in one shake. Did I mention how excited I am about this new shake?

Here is the website for more information: http://www.shakeology.com

More Fun Motivation!

So this week has been particularly tough for motivation. I've been dragging my tail feathers getting out of bed in the morning even dreading the tough Chalean Extreme Lean Phase workouts. (boy they are tough at 5am!) I know I have goals, and its at these "weak moments" I know I have to change something, anything to get me geared again.

Soooo, I buckled down and bought the "deluxe DVD" for Chalean Extreme. YAY! Just like getting a surprise gift in the mail, it arrived today and got me psyched for something new. The DVD has a new endurance workout, a new fat burning workout and a new ab routine! Having only one more "official" week of the 90 day program, getting these new additions help solidify my plans for my future routines.

Also, tomorrow is my LAST final for the term in school. I get a month off. With my oh so much extra free time, I plan on doing the following things:

1. Get a 1 month tanning thing going. Not that I condone tanning, but man are my legs WHITE. Its going to be shorts season and I might actually scare somebody or myself with my whitey white legs. I just plan on tanning enough to get me a little something something... not everyday.
2. Adding an extra cardio workout or 2 into my routine. I'm thinking kicking it up a notch might do the trick.
3. Learning to program for the iPhone/iTouch. I've got the developer information, all I need is the time and some cool app ideas.
4. Video blogging. I want to follow this super trend.
5. Getting more pictures up on the internet. I never seem to post mine!
6. Visit with some of my most cherished friends. Yes I have friends, unless they all hate me when I disappear during school season.

Ok thats its for now. PEACE like chicken grease!

Super Awesome PB Oatmeal

For a healthy protein enriched breakfast, this recipe is the bomb! Especially if you like peanut butter, as I am all too keen on.

1/2 cup old-fashioned (or quick) oats
1 cup water
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 tsp or more of natural peanut butter
a tiny handful of chopped nuts (whatever kind you like and this is optional)

1. Make the oats according to directions, I just nuke for about 3 mins for the old-fashioned kind.
2. Stir in the protein powder and peanut butter.
3. Add the nuts and enjoy!

The nuts add a little crunchy texture to the oatmeal that I really like.

The nutritional contents (without the added nuts!) is approx.:
325 cals, 11g fat (pb is what really raises it), 32g carbs, 25g protein.

After a hearty workout, this just makes my belly happy!! enjoy :) :)

Creating a Healthier World

As I contemplate this first article of my blog, I realize one truth. I want to create a healthier world. I've done an a lot of research about personal health and fitness, yet I feel like I've only skimmed the surface on all the schools of thought out there. So in this beginning, I'll focus on what I'm doing in my life as I go through my own health adventure.

One of the latest reads I've done is the e-book on Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle. This book has been a wealth of information on how to eat when you are on path to body building and fat loss. It neatly combines all the formulas for BMR, ratios of carbs, proteins and fats (depending on your goals), evaluation of body types etc... all to give you a better understanding of how your metabolism really operates. I had the discipline to calculate all these figures out, but find that I need to make adjustments constantly as I learn what works and what doesn't work for my body.

I've been working out with Chalean Extreme, from beachbody.com - I'm about 2.5 months into the 3 month program, and I've had some good results so far. I like that I have a constant routine to follow; it keeps me focused. Of course, I realize that I have far more definition that I can get and far more fat to burn. After years of working out haphazardly and a poor diet, I shouldn't have thought 3 months would turn me into a model. But during this program, I've evaluated my diet like never before! One of the hardest parts to get used to is balanced eating every 2.5 - 3 hours. I'm getting better at it, but lack a lot of creativity in my meal choices. Especially making meals every morning for the whole day - takes time to be creative, which I usually don't have. Also getting more protein into my diet and less carbs was difficult. I was a vegetarian, but the mass amounts of weight lifting with limited results, made me realize that I'm not getting enough protein to sustain the muscle. So now I've slid chicken back into my diet. And bingo! The weight started falling off and more definition in my muscles. I think thats amazing.

I'm doing this program without supplementation (besides multivitamins). For myself, I really don't want to add chemicals to my body other than vitamins to enhance the fat burning. I'm all about being natural. I want to see how far I can go this way.

Thats it for now, stay tuned for more...