January 2013 Fitness in Review

This month just flew by.  I held really strong on the fitness front, slacking a little toward the end of the month.   Same with healthy eats, really good for a couple of weeks, but then almost to the point of giving up.

Fitness-wise, the initial goal was c25k.  This dropped off as the month progressed, and I started becoming more interested in Bikram (hot) yoga.  I also started a new dance class – Samba Fitness.  This was a great new challenge – amazing the difference between the difficulty in Zumba and Samba – I’m pretty used to Zumba now, and feels like a breeze (well, sorta!).  Just goes to show that you have do different activities, to keep challenging the body.

Nutrition-wise I felt like I was doing pretty much 99% clean, e.g. paleo, no sugar, but seeing no real result on the scale.  And when you look at my activity, seems pretty unrealistic that I would not see a change in weight/body fat.  I think this is why I started to fall off the wagon toward the end of the month, both with healthy eats and exercise.  After seeing a dietician, I have been told to just keep recording my daily eats, focus on consistency and keeping active, while not going too hard (this is where the giving up usually happens).

The good news is that I am loving green monster smoothies, and packing more and more spinach in each one(!)  Sounds crazy, but I am starting to like the taste without needing bananas, berries, or any fruit.

So… on to February then(!)  After a few days off exercise and taking it a bit easy on the diet, I am looking forward to getting back to it.

 

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The Weekender

This weekend was a weekend of bikram yoga. Twice, I went! 8am Saturday and 4pm Sunday. It seems crazy, but I think bikram is growing on me. Originally I purchased a groupon deal, but I’m thinking bikram may become more of a permanent fixture in my routine. Not exactly sure where it will fit in the budget – what with Samba and Zumba, it would be cheaper just to get outside and run. We’ll see!

I have been going strong with the no sugar. I’m pretty much 95% paleo. I haven’t been seeing a change on the scales, but I’m working on ignoring them! Fitness and health first!

Weekend eats included Sammy’s Kitchen on Saturday (was pretty disappointed and considering it was my non paleo feed with rice!). Everyone raves about Sammy’s but I wasn’t too fussed.

Gluten free bread after yoga on Sunday, with bacon and eggs. I stopped at one slice, but it was yummo!

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Heatwave

This heat wave is interfering with my new year exercise regime.

7 days no sugar.
7 days no gluten.
7 days paleo.

C25k week 2 complete (skipped wk 1).

700g down.

I want more. I am ready for more.

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May Fitness Goals

Three days into May, and I am going strong     Pushups and core/abs on Tuesday – tick!  Zumba last night – tick!  I am sore today, which is great, and the scales are a little lower too, which is always nice 

So here is my exercise/fitness plan for May >>

Of course, in the initial weeks I do not expect to manage double workouts, or even daily workouts.  It is going to take time to build up the intensity again.  But the count down is really on: 134 days until the wedding, and just a couple more until our honeymoon(!)  And quite a few less than that until dress fittings…

So the very minimum exercise routine >>
Weekly zumba – 75 mins of cardio: paid for, so less excuses!
Cardio – c25k or slow moving
Strength – p90x weights & abs

But most important, nutrition.  I want to get back to paleo, and as much as possible, restrict dining out to once a week.  Of course, this won’t always be the case, but where possible, it is a must. I haven’t got back to wearing my BodyMedia, but come Monday – it will be charged and ready to go    I love that it is almost winter and it will be tucked away under my long sleeved tops.

Less calories in, more calories out = fat loss and toning.

 

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Getting over the hump, back on the wagon, out of a slump…

Perhaps I spoke too soon.  In my rush to see results, I went from zero exercise during the previous two-three weeks, to expecting cardio, and weights, every single day.  See here, for my awesome, but perhaps unrealistic March goals.

So far, I have been to Zumba once, and completed c25k once.  Yep, something is wrong with this picture.

I don’t have any real excuses for this, everyone experiences waning motivation once in a while.  I think more than anything, I have just been lazy.  And I have been fairly happy with my plateau – sitting with a loss, and not gaining.  But, I have about 8 more kilograms to say farewell to forever!

So, where to from here? What to do?!!  I think I’m going to try to lower the expectations a little bit, and just focus on consistency – exercise and paleo.

But, at the same time, complacency is not ok.  I know paleo = weight loss for me, but if I want faster/maintainable weight loss I need cardio, and to lift!  I need to exercise a minimum of four times a week, and(!) I need to start incorporating weights.  And I need to start saying no to sugar (100%).  And And And!

I want this, so I gotta be the one to make it happen 

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February Review and March Goals

After such an amazing effort during January, health and fitness certainly took a backseat during February.  Unfortunately my lazy approach this month has resulted in a plateau, or perhaps just a pause!  It is a relief that a month of limited exercise, and some indulgence has not meant completely falling off the wagon 

So I am ready to re-focus, and start seeing some results again.  I can’t help but check how many days remaining until our wedding – 199 days and counting.  Of course, I want a life of health, but it doesn’t hurt to add some serious motivation(!)  I have plenty of time, but I would love to have a couple of months before the wedding to work on my ability to maintain.

Anyway, so what is on the agenda for March?!

For continued weight loss – Cardio, continuing with c25k and I am considering introducing weekly Zumba.

For longer term weight maintenance and toning – Introducing weights utilising the p90x weight routines.

Paleo paleo paleo!  And to be even more accountable, a return of calorie counting and wearing my BodyMedia armband to ensure I am on the right track.

Giving Zumba a try tonight at Kokoloco, … nervous!

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January Review: Paleo + c25k; Continued…

I could blab on all day about my January results, want to check them out again? … But what about Mr. J?

Mr. J, my silent partner in our fitness/health/paleo/running adventures, has also been going strong over the past month.

In terms of paleo, he isn’t loving it.  Funny, I thought he wouldn’t care too much about food routine, chicken, beef, chicken, lamb, chicken!   But after a month, the simple notion of restriction does bother him [So I will make an effort to vary our dinners at least and introducing tuna for lunch!].

One major positive of paleo, Mr. J has managed to push through the c25k runs with me; with virtually zero pain (nagging knee injury).  We have read alot about the benefits of a paleo/gluten free diet, > less inflammation < which can definitely provide an explanation for the limited pain he’s been experiencing.  [Last year we gave c25k a trial, but he didn't last long.  And now we're up to week 5!].

So any guys out there considering paleo… his results are pretty convincing!

Mr. J has lost 4.2kgs since January 1st, down 3.1% body fat!

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January Review: Paleo + c25k

It’s 2012 baby, how are you doing?!

It is such a fantastic feeling to be looking back over the past 31 days, and to be feeling a real sense of accomplishment(!)  Noone is perfect, our set goals don’t always go as planned, there are always bumps along the road.  But yet, there are times, when you just feel it, know it.  Know that, yep, you got this!

And for the last 31 days, I did pretty well on the “I got this” side of things 

So what were my goals this month?  Initially I was unsure where I wanted to take my health and fitness in 2012.  But after a bit of consideration (dithering!), I decided to keep it simple.  Finally, it was time to look at the nutrition side of  things (this is always hardest for me) >> and I decided to hit up the Paleo lifestyle.  [Did you see that?   I'm talking myself away from diet and toward a new Lifestyle].  Check out my two favourite paleo sites – here and here.  It’s not easy, but I love the results I am getting.  I have cut out dairy, sugar, pasta, rice, bread, > the list goes on(!)

And for physical activity, >> I decided to really give couch to 5km a good run.  See that?  Yeah, I am full of it today!  In January, I walked/jogged/ran a total of twelve times covering 43.4km    And to date, I have completed every c25km run without stopping.

So where did all this healthy goodness leave me?  What about my RESULTS?  I took my measurements this morning, and overall, I am down 15cms and 2.5% body fat.  The largest reduction was 5cm lost on my waist!!  What a great start to 2012 

I have lost 3kgs since January 1st, 2012!

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January Goals Update and Weigh In!

23 days into January, 2012, and … Yup, I have been MIA – lots of wedding goodness going on last week!  It’s certainly starting to feel more real, because of one big factor!  I will update the wedding side of things soon 

January is just flying past, and I have been to and from Sydney three times already, two birthdays and wedding stuff.  Plus, I guess I should call this time, a holiday(?).  Or perhaps, (after finishing my masters December ’11), I can no longer call myself a student, and *cue scary music* I am simply unemployed(!)

Anyway, with all the trips to Sydney, my nutrion/exercise habits haven’t completely run with the plan, which in a nutshell was paleo and c25k (at least for now).

Paleo is certainly a love/hate relationship.  I am loving the results, but I never realised that gluten is in virtually everything.  It is 100% not a problem eating at home, but eating out – lunch especially, is difficult.  Mr. J finds the restrictions particularly annoying.  We said that we would give the paleo concept at least a month, but I am hoping (listen up Mr. J!) that we continue well into February.  I have read recommendations of at least six month trials, so the longer we continue, the better chance we have of seeing real results with paleo.

Onto the exercise(!)  Thanks to Couch to 5k, my cardio health is definitely improving.  After feeling like I would die/pass out on the first few runs, I am definitely running for longer each run, and no failures so far.  I start week 4 this week, and those 5 minute block runs do scare me a little bit!  But I have faith in the program, so will give it my best.  8 runs so far, in one month, which is certainly a record for me!

So, with all this perseverence (with admittedly a few hiccups here and there), where am I at?  For my last weigh in, read about it here.   I am planning on waiting out the month to take my measurements, but I am excited though!  Which is a nice feeling 
Ok, here goes >>

I have lost 2.2kg since January 1st!

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January Goals: Paleo + c25k

11 days in to 2012, so how is it going?  Although I am not big on the new year resolutions, after finishing my degree in December, and with our wedding coming up in September – It’s great timing to make some life changes 

I decided that this year, it is finally time to get my nutrition in check.  Years of uni-related poor eating habits > I am definitely ready for good healthy eating habits.  And so, Mr. J and I decided to try the Paleo idea.  I guess that we are looking at doing it seriously for a month, and then re-evaluating (to see if it’s all worth the hype!).

Over the past 10 days I feel like my attempt at the ‘paleo lifestyle’ has been going well.  Minus about 3 meals and a few/several glasses of wine, I am going strong(!)  I have completely cut white carbs, and I think I am actually starting to feel better for it.   I definitely feel less bloated, but I still feel sluggish and tired, which may have more to do with life stress 

In terms of exercise, I am still not 100% sure where I want to take my fitness this year.  I dabbled with many routines in 2011, gym classes, yoga, 30 Day Shred, Ripped in 30, p90x, c25k etc.

For the mean time, I am attempting to give c25k a solid chance.  4 runs completed so far!  It has been hard, I didn’t realise how much my cardiovascular fitness had dropped last year while doing p90x.  I am doing the runs with Mr. J, and I hope that he will continue to motivate me to keep it up    I know that I should incorporate some weight training soon, but I am wary of exercising too much, which I think explained the lack of weight loss last year.  So perhaps cardio for January, beginning to incorporate some weights in Feburary… perhaps!  Yup, I am pretty indecisive at this point!

 

The good news is … ladies and gentlemen … drum roll please (!!)  Ha!

I have lost 1.1kg since January 1st!

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