This week was all about drinking more water based on a formula using our weight. This calculation gives us the required amount of water we should be getting daily. We are also supposed to incorporate eight vegetables a day. Drinking all the required water and eating eight vegetables per day was challenging when I first began the program (Round 1) back in May. Now it is a daily habit! Therein lies the purpose of this fitness challenge - changing lifestyle habits.
Shopping Trip
Once school started and I began teaching again I found myself not able to wear any of my slacks - they were too big! Over the summer I practially lived in workout gear and bathing suits! (I love swimming and being in my yard.) Each time I would put on slacks I would have to change and go back to my skirts. So, this past weekend I went shopping. In May I was wearing a size 10. I also had some 8s - you know those extra set of clothes when you managed to lose some weight for a while. As I was shopping I enthusiastically gathered slacks in size 6 and off to the dressing room I went. To my surprise they were also too big! I could not beleive it. I went back out and found the same slacks in size 4. Oh my gosh, they fit, and some were still a bit roomy. Just for fun I went to get a size 2 in one of the styles - just to see! The 2 was a perfect fit but more snug than I like - besides I need some "growing room". I was torn about investing in these size 4 pants thinking "will I really stay this weight?". I left that thought as quick as it came. This is my new life; I feel better than I have felt in decades; I am commited to continue with these new lifestyle habits for the rest of my life.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Week 3
The previous two weeks were establishing our baseline fitness. We were weighed, measured and pinched! The pinching part was using a calibrating device that measured our body composition. This is actually the most important data used to determine how much progress is being made. It determines how much lean mass and fat mass we are carrying around. You add those two number together and that will give you what you weigh. Also, percent body fat is calculated from these two numbers. Interesting! I am at my optimum from the last fitness challenge, however, there is still much improvement to be done. Here's why I say this. While being weighed, measured and pinched one at a time, the rest of us are learning great strengthening exercises. What I am finding is, as I work out, I still need to work on my balance. My core, my lower back and my upper back are still weak. Doreen and Aaron are wonderful at teaching us correct posture and stance to insure that our body mechanics are just right as we do each exercise. They carefully monitor us as we go through each movement so as to not create stress on any other parts of our bodies. Awesome!
So this week, Week 3, we worked out the first 30 minutes, then we learned why drinking enough water and eating our eight different veggies per day is essential for healthy cells. So what I took from this is, if your cells aren't healthy, then you are not healthy. The handouts given to us explained the many reasons why you should eat eight veggies per day and even more reasons why you should get enough clean healthy water.
Why am I doing this again? Basically I want to continue to improve. I am afraid that just after three months my newly formed habits could be lost. This will help me continue on the right path. At the end of this three month challenge I am not expecting to lose more weight, but to lose more toxins, lose the water retention that is still going on in my lower legs, and to have a better overall sense of well-being. My kidneys and liver have been working for many years trying to clean out the garbage I have been putting in. I expect it to take more than the past three months to repair. Here's to another three months of becoming even more healthy and adding years to my life!
So this week, Week 3, we worked out the first 30 minutes, then we learned why drinking enough water and eating our eight different veggies per day is essential for healthy cells. So what I took from this is, if your cells aren't healthy, then you are not healthy. The handouts given to us explained the many reasons why you should eat eight veggies per day and even more reasons why you should get enough clean healthy water.
Why am I doing this again? Basically I want to continue to improve. I am afraid that just after three months my newly formed habits could be lost. This will help me continue on the right path. At the end of this three month challenge I am not expecting to lose more weight, but to lose more toxins, lose the water retention that is still going on in my lower legs, and to have a better overall sense of well-being. My kidneys and liver have been working for many years trying to clean out the garbage I have been putting in. I expect it to take more than the past three months to repair. Here's to another three months of becoming even more healthy and adding years to my life!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Three Month Fitness Challenge
August 12th ended the 90 day fitness challenge that I participated in with Lorenz Total Wellness. I decided at the last minute to join. Each week I met up with others for one hour; 30 minutes of physical training and 30 minutes of nutritional training. I have always been conscious of my health and what I put in my body, but like most of us, my diet was not always the best. I was not considered overweight by and I participated in somewhat of a consistent exercise program. However, my body just did not seem to perform as it should – of which I contributed to age. My decision to take part in this challenge was based on the prospect of educating myself on a healthier lifestyle. I am 54 years old, a teacher, and work pretty much a twelve hour day when school is in session. Stress is what causes much of my problems. My summer has been focused on achieving lifelong habits to sustain me when I return back to school and for the rest of my life. As I began the journey I was immediately encouraged when I began learning and applying the nutritional information. Even though I was not considered overweight by “national standards” (you know those charts that tell you your range for your age), I did have those ten extra pounds I carried in my lower body that I could not just see to lose no matter how much I worked out. I learned that just by drinking the amount of water based on how much I weigh would help me to lose those stored toxins and fat. Each week Aaron added more information on nutrition and homework for applying that new knowledge – eating the right foods, eating it often, and enjoying it! One of the hardest things to do in the beginning was eating eight vegetables a day. I felt like I was eating all the time. In fact, as I learned, this is the best practice for providing my body with a consistent source of energy unlike the feast and famine method I had done before. This prevents my body from spiking and then storing foods not knowing when the next meal will come. Half way through the challenge we had our second weigh and measurement session. I knew I had improved just by the way I felt. I had much more energy and stamina. I felt better and my clothes were fitting differently. I had lost 6 pounds, but better than that I had lost 1.5 inches from my waist 1.75 inches from my hips, and 2.25 inches from my thighs! That’s those pounds and inches I have never been able to conquer! My fat mass decreased 9.6 points, my lean mass increased 3.4 points and my percent body fat dropped from 25.6 to 20.3. This is just after 45 days of following the easiest diet ever – drink more water, eat 8 vegetables, 3 lean proteins, and 1 whole complex carbohydrate a day as well as staying on a consistent exercise program. Today I go in for my last weigh and measure. I am not sure how much more I have improved but I do know that my life has changed. Thank you Aaron for helping me provide quality and longevity to my life. You have given me the greatest gift I have ever received.
Postscript:
I received my results later that day from the last weigh and measure. As I mentioned above, I wasn’t sure how much more I had improved, but I was completely surprised! I lost another 6 pounds, a total of 12.6 pounds – oh my gosh, those 10 pounds were gone and more! I lost a total of 3 ½ inches from my waist, 3 inches from my hips, and 3 inches from my thighs. The total body fat that I lost was 14.91 pounds! All I can say is INCREDIBLE! I have made a commitment to sign up another three months to get me through those first few stressful months of school in keeping me committed to my health and well being. I am also bringing a dear friend of mine who has just accepted my challenge to her to change her life as well. I will be blogging weekly on my progress and what I am learning. Today my husband gave me the best complement - he said "I love the way your body looks; you are extremely sexy to me!" This is coming from a man of few words. I am looking forward to more health benefits coming my way in the next three months!
August 12th ended the 90 day fitness challenge that I participated in with Lorenz Total Wellness. I decided at the last minute to join. Each week I met up with others for one hour; 30 minutes of physical training and 30 minutes of nutritional training. I have always been conscious of my health and what I put in my body, but like most of us, my diet was not always the best. I was not considered overweight by and I participated in somewhat of a consistent exercise program. However, my body just did not seem to perform as it should – of which I contributed to age. My decision to take part in this challenge was based on the prospect of educating myself on a healthier lifestyle. I am 54 years old, a teacher, and work pretty much a twelve hour day when school is in session. Stress is what causes much of my problems. My summer has been focused on achieving lifelong habits to sustain me when I return back to school and for the rest of my life. As I began the journey I was immediately encouraged when I began learning and applying the nutritional information. Even though I was not considered overweight by “national standards” (you know those charts that tell you your range for your age), I did have those ten extra pounds I carried in my lower body that I could not just see to lose no matter how much I worked out. I learned that just by drinking the amount of water based on how much I weigh would help me to lose those stored toxins and fat. Each week Aaron added more information on nutrition and homework for applying that new knowledge – eating the right foods, eating it often, and enjoying it! One of the hardest things to do in the beginning was eating eight vegetables a day. I felt like I was eating all the time. In fact, as I learned, this is the best practice for providing my body with a consistent source of energy unlike the feast and famine method I had done before. This prevents my body from spiking and then storing foods not knowing when the next meal will come. Half way through the challenge we had our second weigh and measurement session. I knew I had improved just by the way I felt. I had much more energy and stamina. I felt better and my clothes were fitting differently. I had lost 6 pounds, but better than that I had lost 1.5 inches from my waist 1.75 inches from my hips, and 2.25 inches from my thighs! That’s those pounds and inches I have never been able to conquer! My fat mass decreased 9.6 points, my lean mass increased 3.4 points and my percent body fat dropped from 25.6 to 20.3. This is just after 45 days of following the easiest diet ever – drink more water, eat 8 vegetables, 3 lean proteins, and 1 whole complex carbohydrate a day as well as staying on a consistent exercise program. Today I go in for my last weigh and measure. I am not sure how much more I have improved but I do know that my life has changed. Thank you Aaron for helping me provide quality and longevity to my life. You have given me the greatest gift I have ever received.
Postscript:
I received my results later that day from the last weigh and measure. As I mentioned above, I wasn’t sure how much more I had improved, but I was completely surprised! I lost another 6 pounds, a total of 12.6 pounds – oh my gosh, those 10 pounds were gone and more! I lost a total of 3 ½ inches from my waist, 3 inches from my hips, and 3 inches from my thighs. The total body fat that I lost was 14.91 pounds! All I can say is INCREDIBLE! I have made a commitment to sign up another three months to get me through those first few stressful months of school in keeping me committed to my health and well being. I am also bringing a dear friend of mine who has just accepted my challenge to her to change her life as well. I will be blogging weekly on my progress and what I am learning. Today my husband gave me the best complement - he said "I love the way your body looks; you are extremely sexy to me!" This is coming from a man of few words. I am looking forward to more health benefits coming my way in the next three months!
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