Day 1
I’ve made a decision. I need to focus my own health and fitness. 8 weeks.
I had a bit of a reality check this January. My weight has gone up almost 5 lbs since the end of the Half Marathon training season, last October. Clothes are fitting tighter. I’m running slower. I’m getting soft, losing definition. Yikes, time to take back the reins!
I have to admit, even though I whine a little about training twice a year for Half Marathon, it keeps me in shape, as does my work as a yoga teacher (12 classes per week), fitness instructor (7 classes per week) and personal trainer. Having said that, it allows me to coast and not do my own training sessions. And voila, I’m gaining weight, getting soft and sluggish.
So, I hereby commit to the following for the next 8 weeks, and have decided to blog about the experience to keep me on track. If even one person is reading this, thank you, you’ve become my accountability buddy!
NUTRITION
Clean it up! No late night eating. Pull back on starchy carbs (just sweet potato, brown rice and oatmeal allowed), and focus on whole foods. Something green with every meal (yes, even breakfast with Greens Plus!). Snacks are fresh or steamed veggies, nuts, tea, Glo bars and the like. 8 glasses of water daily, including lemon water in the am. Protein shakes need to get back in the mix, which means I need to buy the ingredients and plan time in the morning! Much more than this . . .
TRAINING
Skipping every day, starting with 3 minutes and adding more time each day to a max of 10 min. This should help my VO2 max – we’ll see! Resistance training 3 times a week at a local gym. Why not at my studio? Because it’s too easy to slack off, be distracted and not finish the workout. Plus, it’s actually fun to play with all the various machines, racks, barbells, free weights, working on my form and tracking my workouts.
SLEEP
Always a priority with my schedule of about 6 hours of work each morning and another 4 hours each night. If I don’t get close to 8 hours at night, I can sense my energy flagging during the day. And, getting a daily nap mid afternoon of 30 – 45 min seems to be just the reset button I need.
So here I go, writing my first blog! I may not write every day, and I will try to keep it short and interesting when I do write. Thank you for reading and I’d love your comments and suggestions along the way!
Sandy
Amazing Sandy!!! I think perhaps many of us think because you are a yoga and fitness instructor, you don’t experience the same challenges that we do. But of course, you do. I applaud you for being honest and for sharing.
I Look forward to reading more……..
Michele
Thx Michele! I’ll post again tomorrow, mapping out my workout plans!
Thanks for sharing Sandy! You’ve got this 🙂
Thanks for the encouragement, Andrea! It really does help to put it out there (that I’m working on this), as I saw you do (and look at the changes you’ve made – woohoo!)
Thanks for sharing this 8 weeks Sandy. You’ve put some significant goals in place… I’m going to sit down and explore what I would like to aim for in the next 8 weeks (8 weeks seems manageable). I think focusing on sleep patterns will be where I start, and a healthy breakfast, which I tend to not prioritize even though I know how healthy it is. Thanks for the motivation 🙂
Hi Andrea, that’s a great place to start! SLEEP is so very important to every aspect of our being. Thanks for the reminder, I need to go to be in 45 minutes!!
And healthy breakfast . . . I just made scrambled eggs for my ‘late supper’ after work, enough that there are left overs for tomorrow’s breakie. They seem to do the trick!
I love this, Sandy! You are such an inspiration and always have been. <3. I am in! Subject to my girls (always), I have made a decision too. You are just the added inspiration I needed. GO SANDY!
Awesome, Solange! You are an inspiration too, with raising your two beautiful twin daughters! Love your FB posts! We all need a little nudge from time to time to refocus on our own health and on our strengths. “Presidents don’t do great things by dwelling on their limitations, but by focusing on their possibilities.” Henry Kissinger.Keep working with your strengths in every way – physically, mentally, emotionally. If you’re interested in digging deeper on character strengths, contact me at sandy@fitjourney.ca! LOVE <3
Dear Sandy, you inspire me as I need some support to get stronger and leaner- yeah…
I admire your exercise plan, even though it is overwhelming me.
You lead by example!
What do you buy to make a protein mix? It is new to me and it was suggested by a nutritionist too.Please share.
Your blog is just in time.
Hi Jola, thank you! I use Ultra Clear which was recommended to me by my Naturopath, Dr Tammy Grime when I did a detox program with her. It’s delicious and balanced with ingredients that support your liver and kidneys (as they work hard to process protein). I buy it at Supplements Plus.