My Strength comes from the Lord...
It is absolutely amazing how God works to reveal himself to me in the most bizarre ways. I can be mid-workout, all sweaty and out of breath and He comes to me. This happened on Saturday. I was keeping my previous goal of upping my resistance on the elliptical machine and it was KILLING ME! I was about halfway through my workout and I thought I might fall right off and have a heart attack on the floor of 24 hour fitness. All I could think of was "I am going to die in a 24 hour fitness...will anyone even notice or will they be so into their Ipods that they won't stop?" And then suddenly Psalm 121 came to me:
I lift up my eyes to the hills- Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip -He who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you
The LORD is your shade at your right hand;
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm -He will watch over your life;
The LORD will watch over your coming and going
Both now and forevermore
This gave me such strength for I knew that even the smallest things...if it is important to me...is important to Him! He steadies my foot and he gives me strength every day, why would He not be there in the gym...sweat and all???
The sermon I heard on Sunday reiterated this for me. The pastor spoke of yet another favorite scripture of mine from Isaiah 6:1
I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.
The pastor spoke of this meant that God's robe so filled the temple that there was no room for anything else. That he was not just IN the room....he FILLED the room! How amazing to think that God's presence is not just a small guy sitting in the corner, but that he is all encompassing! I truly gather my strength from God and take respite in the fact that He is with me...every where. Especially at the gym.
So how is my progress?
Weigh In 1/21/2009: -3 lbs!!!
I have really made some progress in my goals. I have continued to go to the gym 4 days a week and increase my resistance while working out. I have also continued doing strength training at home. I can just feel my muscles working that have been in hibernation for a long time.
I have to be honest, I haven't been as intentional about walking during the day. In my defense I have had some pretty busy days that have meant I haven't been at my desk much, but I still want to work on this. Taking the break to walk is good for my physically as well as my mental status at work!
The other confession I must make is that I am struggling with my caloric intake. I have set the goal to take in no more and no less than 1500 calories. I have struggled to actually hit 1500. Most days I sit right at about 1200-1300. It is difficult for me not to want to continue to cut back and back, so this is an area I have to continue to be aware of.
Thanks for checking in and indulging my over-analytic brain!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
PROGRESS!!!
Not much, but every little bit counts.
First and foremost, my first official weigh in (I weighed in on 1/7/2009, but that was my 'baseline')
1/14/2009: -3 lbs
Holy cow, 3 lbs in a week. I was actually pleasantly surprised. I have been working out and dieting, but when I was really working out a year ago, the scales never seemed to budge. Of course I was nursing then and G was only a few months old, but yesterday I was genuinely surprised with what the scales told me.
So how's it going??? Not too bad. I am really enjoying my work outs. I have so much energy just from the last week and a half. It is awesome how much of a difference being active makes. I am also increasing my stamina in my strength training and cardio workouts. I moved up from a 5 lb weight for my upper body strength training to an 8 lb weight. THAT felt awesome! My heart rate on my cardio workouts is much better too. I was maxing out at 167-170 in the height of my workout, and now I am not even breaking 160!
The diet I do not enjoy. I am doing it, but it definitely is not something I prefer to do. I think I'm finally over my break up with Coca Cola...it was a rough one (one that gave me a headache for 4 days straight), but I made it. To be honest I don't really miss caffiene much, except when I am out with friends and they all get coffee. Is it ok to be a social drinker ;) I will most likely reintroduce caffiene in small amounts in another month or so, but I really want to give my body a good cleansing.
While the diet isn't fun, it has made me feel better. I don't get that heavy feeling in my gut after a meal because I use major portion control. Sunday I even skipped the rice from my mom's delicious Chicken n' Rice meal. I am also discovering what a difference having a diet with tons of fruit and veggies in it can do. I also discovered (I'm a bit behind the times) VitaminWater. I love that stuff. It does have 125 calories per 20 ounces, so I only get one each day, but it is great! My favorite is the XXX (acai, blueberry, pomegranete). It is yummy and chock full of antioxidants. I am not good at taking my vitamins, so hopefully this helps a little.
So here are my goals for the next week (or two):
1. Continue dieting, consuming 1500 calories/day (no more AND no less)
2. Continue working out at the gym 4 days a week but increase the resistance and incline on my cardio workouts. I want to keep my heart rate right at 160 for the maximum cardio workout.
3. Move up a level in my strength training. Currently I am using the beginners video, but as I have moved to heavier weights I feel I am ready to get more of a challenge.
4. Walk more during the day. I have many days that are busy, busy and I am out and about all day. Then there are other days I am at my desk and mostly sedentary all day long. On those days I want to get up at least twice (15 minute breaks) and walk the building or outside if the weather permits.
Ok...I'll report back on how it is going. Good luck, everyone!!!
First and foremost, my first official weigh in (I weighed in on 1/7/2009, but that was my 'baseline')
1/14/2009: -3 lbs
Holy cow, 3 lbs in a week. I was actually pleasantly surprised. I have been working out and dieting, but when I was really working out a year ago, the scales never seemed to budge. Of course I was nursing then and G was only a few months old, but yesterday I was genuinely surprised with what the scales told me.
So how's it going??? Not too bad. I am really enjoying my work outs. I have so much energy just from the last week and a half. It is awesome how much of a difference being active makes. I am also increasing my stamina in my strength training and cardio workouts. I moved up from a 5 lb weight for my upper body strength training to an 8 lb weight. THAT felt awesome! My heart rate on my cardio workouts is much better too. I was maxing out at 167-170 in the height of my workout, and now I am not even breaking 160!
The diet I do not enjoy. I am doing it, but it definitely is not something I prefer to do. I think I'm finally over my break up with Coca Cola...it was a rough one (one that gave me a headache for 4 days straight), but I made it. To be honest I don't really miss caffiene much, except when I am out with friends and they all get coffee. Is it ok to be a social drinker ;) I will most likely reintroduce caffiene in small amounts in another month or so, but I really want to give my body a good cleansing.
While the diet isn't fun, it has made me feel better. I don't get that heavy feeling in my gut after a meal because I use major portion control. Sunday I even skipped the rice from my mom's delicious Chicken n' Rice meal. I am also discovering what a difference having a diet with tons of fruit and veggies in it can do. I also discovered (I'm a bit behind the times) VitaminWater. I love that stuff. It does have 125 calories per 20 ounces, so I only get one each day, but it is great! My favorite is the XXX (acai, blueberry, pomegranete). It is yummy and chock full of antioxidants. I am not good at taking my vitamins, so hopefully this helps a little.
So here are my goals for the next week (or two):
1. Continue dieting, consuming 1500 calories/day (no more AND no less)
2. Continue working out at the gym 4 days a week but increase the resistance and incline on my cardio workouts. I want to keep my heart rate right at 160 for the maximum cardio workout.
3. Move up a level in my strength training. Currently I am using the beginners video, but as I have moved to heavier weights I feel I am ready to get more of a challenge.
4. Walk more during the day. I have many days that are busy, busy and I am out and about all day. Then there are other days I am at my desk and mostly sedentary all day long. On those days I want to get up at least twice (15 minute breaks) and walk the building or outside if the weather permits.
Ok...I'll report back on how it is going. Good luck, everyone!!!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
BandWagon
Ok...I'm back.
I let myself fall REALLY far off the band wagon, and now I am paying for it.
I am back to the gym 4 days a week at this point. I joined a new gym that is only a mile from my home instead of nearly 15 miles. I like it so far, but have only really used the cardio machines. It is also super crowded all the time since it's right after the new year. Hopefully the crowds will thin as people forget their New Year's Resolution (but not me...haha). I am also doing strength training at home with a video Monday through Friday. Through our cable provider they have Exercise TV on demand. I can watch my choice of 40-50 videos! It is awesome. I went and got an exercise mat and some weights to get started on this.
I am also back on the diet. I am not counting calories because of my own personal obsession with it, but I am cutting way back. Here is a typical day of food:
Breakfast - Cereal w/ 1% milk
AM snack - Piece of fruit
Lunch - Lean Cuisine meal
Dinner - meal w/ family using portion control
PM snack - 1/2 cup of slow-churned reduced fat ice cream, piece of fruit, etc.
If I get hungry in the afternoon I will throw in a 90 calorie rice cake pack. They are good and just enough to get you through.
I have also given up all soda and caffienated beverages (bye, bye coffee...boo hoo). This is in an effort to detox my body. I will most likely reintroduce caffiene when I feel I can handle it, but for now it is water only!
So yes, I am paying for it. My legs are like Jell-O. I have done some great strength training and cardio workouts, but boy-howdy do I feel it. I am using muscles that haven't been used in a while and my body is screaming in protest. Walking is interesting right now.
My body is also adjusting to the change in my diet big time. I am reducing sugar, fat and caffiene and I can tell. My head throbs almost constantly and I constantly have visions of candy bars and Coke dance in my head. The fact that my husband can eat anything in sight and not gain an ounce only proves to torture me more.
I have a long road ahead of me, but I am surprisingly excited about it. I am hoping with a change in lifestyle I will feel better all around. I am excited for this summer. Gracelynn gets more and more active by the day, and I want to be a mom that can keep up with her. I'll keep ya posted!
I let myself fall REALLY far off the band wagon, and now I am paying for it.
I am back to the gym 4 days a week at this point. I joined a new gym that is only a mile from my home instead of nearly 15 miles. I like it so far, but have only really used the cardio machines. It is also super crowded all the time since it's right after the new year. Hopefully the crowds will thin as people forget their New Year's Resolution (but not me...haha). I am also doing strength training at home with a video Monday through Friday. Through our cable provider they have Exercise TV on demand. I can watch my choice of 40-50 videos! It is awesome. I went and got an exercise mat and some weights to get started on this.
I am also back on the diet. I am not counting calories because of my own personal obsession with it, but I am cutting way back. Here is a typical day of food:
Breakfast - Cereal w/ 1% milk
AM snack - Piece of fruit
Lunch - Lean Cuisine meal
Dinner - meal w/ family using portion control
PM snack - 1/2 cup of slow-churned reduced fat ice cream, piece of fruit, etc.
If I get hungry in the afternoon I will throw in a 90 calorie rice cake pack. They are good and just enough to get you through.
I have also given up all soda and caffienated beverages (bye, bye coffee...boo hoo). This is in an effort to detox my body. I will most likely reintroduce caffiene when I feel I can handle it, but for now it is water only!
So yes, I am paying for it. My legs are like Jell-O. I have done some great strength training and cardio workouts, but boy-howdy do I feel it. I am using muscles that haven't been used in a while and my body is screaming in protest. Walking is interesting right now.
My body is also adjusting to the change in my diet big time. I am reducing sugar, fat and caffiene and I can tell. My head throbs almost constantly and I constantly have visions of candy bars and Coke dance in my head. The fact that my husband can eat anything in sight and not gain an ounce only proves to torture me more.
I have a long road ahead of me, but I am surprisingly excited about it. I am hoping with a change in lifestyle I will feel better all around. I am excited for this summer. Gracelynn gets more and more active by the day, and I want to be a mom that can keep up with her. I'll keep ya posted!
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