Accountability

My first post after a 2 month hiatus! I am back, gymaholics... for now.

I mainly wanted to write about one point to keep in mind; being accountable.

Stress the importance to your family or friends how dedicated you want to be in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  Ask for their help to check on you.  Having people like this in your life is SO important that way it will never feel like you are in this alone.  I hope you all have been having a beautiful summer.  Mine has been nothing short of wonderful and hectic!  I wouldn't ask for anything else...


Happy healthy song for the week:

KUDOS to all of you who heard of Hall and Oats before 500 Days of Summer! 

SHE'S BACK!

Oh, how I've missed you, running shoes!

A couple of weeks ago I ran for the first time in FOUR months!  It felt incredible, truly no words to describe how much I loved it, and how appreciative it made me of being able to run.  

How sick is that shirt?  Definitely felt like a badass running in it ;-)

I thought I would stop after the first mile since the Doctor told me I need to "ease" my way back in.  I couldn't help myself... I ran four! I stretched extremely well before and after and iced my knee as soon as I got back home.  I'm feeling so full of life and SO ready for the marathon in just FIVE months!  

I hope you all have a beautiful day and that you take it on with PURPOSE!  Feel grateful to be alive and happy to be doing what you're doing!  

HAPPY TUESDAY! (My favorite day of the week).

-C

Love this song... SMILE

Friendly Reminder...

And don't you forget it!!!

- Maximize Your Life -

I've been wanting to write this post for a while now, but have been so busy the past month!

I attended Jillian Michaels' "Maximize Your Life" tour a little over a month ago and learned SO much about my new, healthy lifestyle.  I can't recall EVERYTHING she said, but I'll recite all that I can remember.  This is going to be more of a long blurb, than a well thought out organized post, while I try and remember everything she said in my notes... bare with me please.

What stuck out to me most is how disappointed Jillian would be with something I've written on this blog.  I have previously stated before that counting calories is a waste of time!  Jillian stressed the importance of counting calories and keeping track of your caloric intake.  I completely agree if you don't generally know the average of calories in common foods, but once you know it's easy to remember.  I especially don't count calories since most of everything that I eat is organic and I keep my portions light and right.  

Jillian also stressed the importance of how exercise/diet makes you HAPPY and LIVE THE LIFE YOU WANT TO LIVE!  It's so true that it truly changes your lifestyle.  I took a Biology class not too long ago solely focusing on the human body and how your body reacts to exercise.  Endorphins are released when you exercise and endorphins are what makes you happy!  Most doctors actually tell their depressed patients to start first with exercising before committing to any kind of medication.  

Surround yourself with positivity; whether that be people or new habits in general.  One of my favorite quotes is by that of the brilliant Chuck Pahalniuk, "Nothing of me is original, I am the combined effort of everyone I've ever known."  Surround yourself with that kind of positive influence that makes you who you are.  It truly makes all the difference in how you live your life.

"Food makes you feel good... not really, maybe for 5 minutes.  We develop coping mechanisms in a response to pain.  We eat too much, drink too much, spend too much, because in that moment we consider that as a 'treat'." - Jillian Michaels.  After you take on your little splurging act you're left with the same kind of miserableness you were in the first place.  Do NOT make excuses or encourage coping mechanisms.  Place yourself outside the box and take a deep, hard look at what you are doing in the moment BEFORE you do it.

"Find what you love to do that makes you feel beautiful, makes you feel fun, and isn't destructive."Jillian Michaels.

Jillian joked off how silly it is to only use the weight machines at the gym.  "This isn't 1985 and you look ridiculous."  (Typical Jillian attitude).  Get comfortable in the weight room where the "men" work out!  Talk to the people who work at whatever gym you're at, or another member who knows what he or she is doing if you need the help.  It's better to ask questions than not know what you're doing, or worse, doing nothing at all.

Figure out what your maximum heart rate (MHR) is before you begin your workout.  This means that during your workout you should not allow your heart to be over its number.  How do you find out what your MHR is?  Take 220 minus your age.  Then take .85 X the number you came up with and that's the number you don't want to go over during your workout.  If you don't want to do the math then buy a little fancy watch or any kind of gadget online for a REASONABLE price.  Pay attention to your MHR and base your workouts off of that number for the best weight loss results.

"Your body adapts to stress so don't feel discouraged when you get sore.  Although I do LOVE reading your tweets when you tell me you can't sit on the toilet!" Jillian Michaels.

Jillian spent about 30 minutes going over calories and foods that are good and bad for you, but spent the majority of her time talking about how important it is to know that YOU are important and that YOU matter.  She gave such inspiring advice and words of wisdom explaining that the dieting and exercise follows after you realize your self-worth.  

As far as food is concerned, she made it more simple than people realize.  First of all, EAT ORGANIC!  "Sure it'll cost a lot sometimes, but guess what costs more?  Hospital bills from being unhealthy."  Shop around the outside of your grocery store and stay away from the inner part.  All of the inner part of the grocery store is full of processed foods that to be honest, we don't need.  Meat and fish are full of hormones, chemicals, and MSG when you don't buy organic.  People buy it because it's cheaper, and the sellers are making more money, because more people are buying it. 

Stick with organic grass fed ground beef!  Think about it, if you buy the meat where cows are injected with antibiotics and chemicals then guess what?  Those antibiotics and chemicals are going into your body.  Those chemicals are not only damaging our bodies, but giving 9 year old girls boobs that they should not be getting so soon!

Keep your body antibiotic free and stick with the grass fed beef.  Jillian said don't buy the biggest salmon that you see because it looks the "juiciest".  The smaller salmon fillets are the ones you want to be going after.  

I think I have given the simplified version of Jillian's incredible seminar.  So always remember, know that you are worth it, stick to all things organic (mainly plant-based), keep in mind your MHR, and never feel discouraged.   I'll leave you with this funny, little meme I found on Instagram that I think Jillian would most definitely approve of:

 

Stay encouraged ;-)

-C

For more information on Jillian's "Maximize Your Life" tour, click here to find out how to get started on a new healthy lifestyle with the help of Jill.

We WILL

I was hoping my next blogpost was going to be on the "Maximize Your Life" with Jillian Michaels tour that I attended, but I have to vent out my thoughts/emotions on the Boston Bombing yesterday...

I truly cannot fathom what those runners/bystanders must have gone through, but I can only imagine.  I really took this personally, not only because I am (along with the rest of America) devastated about the sickening act that occurred yesterday, but I know what it's like to wake up in the morning, mentally and physically prepare yourself for a run, and then peacefully take on your course.  

You're doing this for you and not anyone else.  This is your time to relieve stress, kill time, get energized, and get healthy.  You mentally set goals for yourself to not give up, whether it be a tree 500 ft. away, or a stop sign not far from you.  You breathe in inspiration and breathe out frustration.  Temporarily, you don't remember how much debt you're in, how you're going to manage rent this month, or why things didn't work out with that one person.  You are completely tuned into your own little world, listening to music, and pretending you're the star of that music video.  You are superman/woman sprinting to save someone.  You see a mirage of loved ones that passed away and scrambling with every breath you have to get to them.  You are unstoppable and not a single thing or person can touch you.  You are a runner.  

This is your life, challenging yourself day by day to beat your previous mileage, and build up your endurance.  The countdown to the marathon becomes this loud, overbearing "tick-tock, tick-tock" that plays repetitively in your head from the moment you start your run to the moment you end.  You've been training every day, rest days included, for this moment... your moment.  

And then you hear a "BOOM!" and people are hurt and dying.  Some have crossed the finish line and now feel guilty for doing so, some aren't even near the finish line and won't be able to finish what they've started and trained for, and some will never be able to run again.  

Why?  Why does this happen for people that just want to simply and innocently enjoy their lives?  Why do bad things happen to good people?  Why are people killed when they are minding their own business?  I will never know.  No one will ever know why there is so much ugliness in the world.  But there is one thing I do know; we will not let this defeat us.  We WILL come out stronger than we were before.  We WILL become better people filled with compassion and be there to help our fallen friends.  We WILL still see the beauty and good in this world, and not be succumbed to the toxicity of it.  Boston Marathon runners, after completing 26.2 miles continued to run till they reached hospitals to donate their blood to those who needed it.  People that work for Google and American Red Cross took the time in helping people find their loved ones.  Donations are coming in from all across the world. Prayers are being prayed, help is coming in from all directions, and the people are standing together, not alone. 

In my eyes, whoever was behind the attack LOST.  Their names need not to be named, but all of those people behind these hate crimes within the past couple of years have lost.  We are all standing strong and will continue to stand strong.  We WILL overcome these horrendous acts and be the good the world needs.  Start with random acts of kindness.  An anonymous Starbucks drink for the car behind you.  A smile to a person that appears bitter.  Opening the door for a stranger.  These small, diminutive things can make a person have a different outlook on their day, so don't stop doing them, even if they seem meaningless.  I am not saying this is what it will take to make bad things not happen anymore, but it is what it will take for people to remember there is still good in the world.  

My deepest condolences and prayers go out to every single person affected.  Pretty soon, I will be able to start running again, and get back on track with my marathon training.  I will run for Boston, as I'm sure many others will be doing from here on out, too.  I will cross that finish line in October with honor for all of those that could not.  Let's stand together and be the good this world needs.  Moreover, never complain or dread a workout, because at least you CAN workout.  

Stay positive

-C

April Ambition!

We are in the midst of spring, friends!  Walk around, smell the flowers, and enjoy the breeze ;-D 

More importantly, set some rules/goals for yourself.  We're only a week into April, so I set a lovely goal for myself: "NO CHEAT APRIL" 

That's right... NO CHEATING! Try going an entire month with no sweets and see how it changes your body.  This shouldn't be too hard since we only have about 3 weeks left of April!

I've posted a few alternatives to sweet cravings on my blog thus far and I will be sure to post more throughout April to satisfy your sweet tooth, because if you're anything like me, you've got a bad one! 

Natural sugars are more than okay.  It is so good for your body to have one serving of fruit a day.  Mangos, my favorite fruit, are probably the most satisfying for a sweet tooth.  And homemade mango popsicles? Life changing. 

Try something this month that works for you!  Maybe "No cheese April" or "No soda April".  I promise that these small changes will greatly impact your health and body.  Maybe after this month you'll get used to those changes, and instead of going back to making them a part of your diet, they can be a treat instead!  

Need help along the way?  Help YOURSELF!  I now love leaving myself sticky notes throughout the house reminding me of how far I've come and to not give up.  Get creative with what you write on your sticky notes and where you place them.  I put one on my bed after I make it (yes, I do make my bed although it may appear otherwise in pictures) with a question, "Sure you wanna lay down and be lazy?" Instantaneously, I get up and start doing some home workouts!  Who would have thought I could get so much exercise in when originally my plan was to be lazy?  

Another help method: "bikini bff".  Take that cute, teeny bikini every where with you.  I'm not kidding.  Bring it with you to the bathroom, hang it on top of your drawers/closet, hang it in the kitchen while you cook, sleep with it on your bed.  It sounds sickening, but it actually works.  It forces you to have this unhealthy (yet ultimately healthy) drive that makes you obsessed with the idea of perfectly fitting into that bikini.  

Whatever "No Cheat April" you decide to do, remember you are doing it for no one else, but yourself.  Make sure you choose a cheat that you struggle with most; one that you feel your body would be healthier without.  That's the one that's worth it!  Now go take in the beauty of this world and have the happiest of Tuesday's.  I leave you with one of my favorite songs to get you in that happy, full of life mood-

JUST DANCE

 NEVER DREAD A WORKOUT! 

Rihanna

Working out should be something to look forward to.  But, being the ridiculous human beings that we are, we have days where working out sounds dreadful and quite frankly annoying.  Let's be honest, having to spend an hour with the bike or elliptical doesn't sound very exciting sometimes.  So what do we do when these emotions take over us? DANCE. 

Last night, my beautiful girlfriends and I headed south to San Jose and saw the one and only BADGALRIHRIH in concert.  Not only did we have the time of our lives, but we probably burned at LEAST 500 calories dancing our butts off. 

Dancing with my girl *pour it up, pour it up* 

Yes, I danced and duck-faced the night away. 

Don't feel like going for a run, or heading to the gym?  Call up your girls and have a DANCE party or just go out dancing!  You don't need to go to a Rihanna concert just to dance all night and you don't need to go to a club just to get wasted.  I need to start making a habit out of just dancing with my girlfriends to burn those extra calories.  Dancing makes you happy AND you're burning fat -- what more can a girl want? ;-) I drank only 2 drinks at the concert and guess what?  I don't regret it one bit.  Remember, it's okay to treat yourself sometimes, it actually helps you stay on track better as long as you don't overdo it.  I usually have one drink per week, which mainly consists of a glass of wine, and one glass of wine is good for the heart!  

According to this online health article, dancing tones your entire body, reduces stress, builds confidence, and increases stamina and flexibility!  So grab your heels, grab your girls, and get out there! 

SWEET CRAVING OF THE WEEK-

Homemade popsicles!

Prepare your fruit.  I used peaches, kiwis, and strawberries.  Juice whichever combinations you'd like and"juice it up" in your juicer. 

I bought these at the grocery store down the street from my house for a couple bucks.  Fill 'em up and stick 'em in the freezer for a few hours.

My strawberry and peach popsicle... DELICIOUS!  No preservatives and all natural sugar.  I'm officially addicted.  I also made kiwi lime, raspberry, and blueberry! So easy and effortless.

Stay euphoric! ;-)

-C