It's about time!!!

What can you get done in 30 minutes?  I'll tell you what I can do in thirty minutes:
-watch an episode of 'Say Yes to the Dress'
-google the words 'Snooki's love child' and read the countless number of articles speculating the future of Jersey Shore's sure demise
-hop in the car and drive to Starbucks for an Americano (that's a hot beverage, not a hot Italian import)
-think of new blog post
-catch up with friends (and mother) on the phone (sometimes more than 30 minutes, truth be told)
-throw a ball for my poodle (which she would rather I spend all day doing)
-take a shower

The list could go on for a blog that would read as a mini novella.  My point -- thirty minutes is not a long time.  I'm going out on a limb and guessing most of you reading this (kudos to you for having higher IQ's!!) would agree that thirty minutes is really just a blink of an eye in the grand scheme of things.

Guess what you can do, everyday, for thirty minutes and improve your health -- exercise!  For example, thirty minutes of walking everyday helps to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system.  I hope it goes without saying, being a savvy foodie AND exercising go hand in hand to help improve your health.  I do not condone downing a Big Mac, french fries and a coke and then justifying it by saying, "Well I walked for thirty minutes so I'll be fine."  Fine is the last thing you'll be if that's your normal way of being.

The hardest part, for me, is actually getting my behind TO the gym.  I read a weight loss success story of a women who struggled with the simple act of getting dressed FOR the gym.  To bypass this obstacle she slept in her workout wear and then when her alarm rang (at 5:30 am)  all she did was brush her hair and teeth and she was ready to head out for the gym.

Ask yourself this, once you're engaging in your workout routine (be it, walking, running, weight lifting, stair climbing, whatever) is it still challenging to press on?  I usually join a class that goes for an hour so I just put myself in the middle of the room and throw my 60 minutes to the wind and get a great workout.  Sure, I have those moments when I think....THIS SUCKS!!!!  But my life would suck if I weren't working out, that's for sure!

I just got my 6 month body measurements done today.  While this savvy foodie had some moments of (what I like to call) 'eating like an idiot'...I was nervous and wanted to put it off for another month.  To my pleasant surprise my weight and percentage of body fat both decreased and my muscle mass has increased.  I'm stronger, leaner and more flexible.  My fabulous trainer told me, "Those of us who frequent the gym are stronger than 90% of the rest of the population who don't work out at all."

This squirrel is my inspiration

Well smack my (smaller) butt and call me happy!!!  What's another 30 minutes of exercise?

Things that make you go...

 

                      Press Play

It's that time of the year, again.  It's time to face the holiday weight gain and make a change.  I'm starting with the (wo)man in the mirror, I'm asking her to change her ways...sorry.  Within the last few weeks I've relaxed my rigorous gym routine and loaded my diet with tempting treats.  Now I must brace myself for the crowds at the gym and toss out all the merry crap in my pantry.  I like to do a little twirl as I say 'au revoir' to the Christmas cookies and their sugary friends.

I, along with the rest of America, turned on the television this morning and was bombarded with commercials for weight loss.  It's shocking to realize most of us are in the same (over weight) boat every time this year!  You'd think we would prevent this, or at least switch it up.  We are like cattle!!  Moo.

This morning I turned on the TODAY show and I counted 20 weight loss ads within a 30 minute spread.  TWENTY!!  There's the 'Special K' diet, some program called 'Genovine' that ships meals designed for your individual DNA, Jennifer Hudson is doing a duet (with her former fat self) for Weight Watchers and of course 'Bally's' has models (never fat a day in their life) suggesting the gym will produce buns of steel.  One can only hope.

Amidst all the ads telling us we're fat, I have to say...Hmmmm?  Will eating a Special K diet really work?  Should I really eat this, and not that?  Will pre-packaged food seriously shrink my waist line?  It's the things that make you go Hmmmmmmmmmm.  

Do I need to pop on Amazon and order Jillian Michael's new (insane) work out dvd?  The answer to all of the above is a big fat N0!  The only thing truly worth trying out is fewer calories in the day and more physical activity.  I wonder if I could create a sexy ad for the truth.  I need to eat what God made, and his stuff does not last on shelves for weeks and weeks.  I need to shake what my mama gave me, more than usual.  If I follow these two simple rules, I will be ok.

I need to hold steadfast to what I know and not be suckered into these fad diets.  Prepare yourself for a whirlwind of things that will make you go Hmmmmmm.

I kicked my own butt

In addition to being a savvy foodie, I also make exercise a normal part of my life.  There's no weight loss goal, I gave up on bikini season and I'm happily married (so he wisely tells me I'm a beautiful everyday).  I try to switch up my training, so as to avoid getting bored.  I "enjoy" yoga, strength training and I've survived 2 spin classes.

Over the weekend there was a substitute for my favorite strength training class.  I thought the usual teacher was tough, this sub was BRUTAL!  I've been working out, regularly, for 8 months and I consider myself to be strong.  Today is the first day I have actually been back to the gym.  I took 2 days off, not because I was busy but it pained me to walk.  So today I got back on my 'wagon' and I decided to take a spin class.  Oh sweet Jesus am I hurtin!  In a class of 25 regulars, I was the only gal who hadn't taken this class in months and the instructor was new to me.  He said I would probably hate him afterwards, and while I refrain from hating anyone...if I never see his face again, I'd be ok with that.

I know I'm in a ridiculous class when I keep looking at the clock.  That was the longest hour of my life!!  I kept trying to plot out an escape route, but my ego kept my butt on that uncomfortable bike seat.  I would have been too embarrassed to walk out after 15, 20, 35, 55 minutes.   I was the youngest person in the class and I felt a sense of obligation to the other spinners.  When I ran out of water, with 15 minutes still to go, I nearly justified a walk of shame.

The reason I'm blogging about this is to share a trick that keeps me going.   When I'm in a class with other people and there's no easy exit, my tendency is to stay right where I am and gut it out.  I mean, obviously I would have left if I thought death was the only alternative.  But seeing as how I was still very much alive and spinning, I had no other choice than to remain in the center of the room and keep on cycling.

It's amazing what your body will do when you put your mind to it!  I may not be able to walk for another 2 days, but at least my integrity is in tack.