I've decided after months of changing the way I live that I want to write it all down. In no way am I an expert on fitness or nutrition but I do know what works for me and what doesn't. I decided in March that it was time to make some changes. I wasn't happy with my body or my health. Over the past few years I have gone through times of working out and eating healthy. They seemed to only last a few months. I would put everything into it and not be able to keep it up. This time I tackled it differently. I teamed up with my coworker Beth and we made a pack that we would do this together and push each other. Working out with a partner makes the whole experience fun and something to look forward to.
I did not want to go on a diet or some crazy workout plan because I knew it wouldn't last. I wanted this to be a lifestyle change not a "diet of the moment". Beth and I both work at Lifetime Fitness. We started out by asking a trainer at our club if he had any time to show us a few things. That's where it all started. He met with us and gave us our first weigh-in and had us write down goals. Not just, I want to lose 20lbs, but life goals. Goals are a perfect way to provide a clear idea of what you really want. The three goals are Nutrition, Fitness and Health.
My Goals:
Nutrition: To know what is in the food I am eating and how it affects my body
Fitness: To build my endurance while running
Health: Lower my Body Mass Index by 3% by June 1st
These goals give me something to focus on along this journey. We have weekly weigh ins every Monday with our trainer which keeps us motivated throughout the week. After we had our goals set, our trainer gave us a strength training plan. Day 1 kicked our ass! We were sore for days but that is exactly what we needed. We worked muscles we didn't know we had! Along with the strength training we also started Pilates on the reformer two days a week. I Love Pilates! It is a great workout for every muscle and you also get a great stretch! Finally Cardio. I have a love hate relationship with cardio. Some days I cant get enough and other its absolute torture.
Beth and I are both lucky enough to work at a gym so getting the motivation to work out is not as challenging as it could be. I nanny in the mornings, work at Lifetime in the child center, then have two hours off before I nanny again. I'm able to get my workout in, shower and eat lunch. Weekends are when it becomes challenging. Our trainer told us we need to work out 6 days a week with one day off. The day off does need to include some kind of activity though. I try to go to a Fitness Pilates class Saturday mornings.
Nutrition has been the biggest struggle but the part that has made most of the difference. My idea of eating healthy and being on a diet was completely wrong before now. I really have spent a lot of time researching the right things to eat and doing the best I can to follow that. This has been the number one thing that has caused me to lose weight! It is ALL about what you eat! As much as it sucks its true. I use to think before the less you ate the more weight you would lose . I actually have a problem not consuming enough calories now. Throughout this blog I will talk more about what I am eating and what my work outs are. Also, any tips I learn along the way.