Fit Chick Wednesday: My Fitness Journey

I started my fitness journey about a month ago.  I had seriously let go and nothing seemed to satisfy me.  I was slipping down a long and all to familiar hole back to the person that I used to be all because what I had planned did not come to fruition.  However, that story is for another post.  So where did I start?

Okay so to begin with I have always been thin, but in my mind I was never thin enough.  So to make a long story short I chose to partake in the very unhealthy habit of limiting my food intake.  I'm talking 1000 or less calories per day and the least that I could get away with the better.  So eventually through my extreme actions I was down to about 97 lbs.  Now at 5'7 and 24 years old this weight is considered underweight.  Soon everyone began to take notice but no one seemed to understand.  They'd joke and say that I needed to eat or even try to give me more food but in my eyes my body was perfect.  Well if I was perfect what changed?

Well around my 25th birthday my current boyfriend and I started dating and going out led to me more and eventually I gained weight but it was unhealthy weight.  Nothing about this was 'pretty' in my eyes.  However, my boyfriend was happy because as he put it, I was no longer starving myself.  So he began to hint towards me looking at healthier options if I wasn't happy with my body.  So I began researching.  Now also around this time the 'curvy movement' was in full effect and I felt as though I was lacking 'back there' if you get what I mean.  So I began my journey to get a flat stomach and a bigger butt.  Yep, it was all about aesthetics. Aesthetics?! I thought this was a fitness journey.

Yes, I began working out to become 'bootylicious' (I hate that word),
but so far working out enabled me to become more confident.  I am able to do things that never thought I'd be able to do.  I can run a mile, I can complete more than half of a push up, and I've managed to make so many friends (my gym friends).  With that confidence I stopped focusing on being curvy/skinny and more on being fit because now in my mind fit equals happy.  I've added some healthy weight and I'm not done yet.  I want to be the best me that I can be.  So now the fun part...progress pictures.

 October 2013              November 2013

We all have our idea of what our ideal body is and sometimes we need a little push to get us started.  I'm here to be that push.  Get up and get healthy.  Help your body perform at it's optimal level.  Do some research, join a gym, find a workout buddy, drink water, move around more, or waste away.  If you need help feel free to contact me, I am always willing to help and even do some research for you.

I hope you enjoyed and thank you. 

Fit Chick Wednesday: Eating Clean

A lot of people ask me how often I work out in order to keep my figure.  My answer is generally 3 to 5 times per week (seems like a lot but I sit at a desk all day).  However, I wholeheartedly believe that while working out is good much of my success as far as fitness is because of my diet.  I eat clean majority of the time and my meals are generally smaller.  So what is eating clean?

Okay, clean eating centers around consuming food that is as close to it's natural state as possible.  Not to be confused with a raw food diet, you can still cook your food but try not to add much.  Also steer clear of refined sugars and become label conscious.  Also, whenever possible try to buy organic items.  I generally eat 5 to 6 small meals per day (2 are generally snacks). It will take some research but eventually it will become easy.  Remember this is not a diet it is a lifestyle change.  Anytime that you're making such a drastic change it will be hard and you'll want to give up but don't it's worth the pain.  Also, remember that water is important.  I do not drink soda or many juices because that's too much sugar.

Don't know what to buy?  No problem I've found a shopping list for you.

thescienceofeating.com

Well there you have it.  Being healthy isn't just about exercise.  You have to fuel your body with the appropriate foods.  You will not see results overnight but you will see results, trust me.

Here's a list of other resources to help you get started.

http://www.thegraciouspantry.com/clean-eating-shopping-list-for-beginners/

http://www.simplyhealthymama.com/2013/06/clean-eating-101-what-and-why.html

http://www.skinnymom.com/2012/05/21/clean-eating-101-change-your-body-the-healthy-way/

Thanks for reading.  Now go out and get healthy.


Next Fit Chick Wednesday:  My Fitness Journey & Motivation

Be Healthy

If you're anything like me you need a plan to get most things done.  Creating a fitness routine can seem daunting because you're new to it and you want results, but where do you start?  I've put together a general full body workout that is sure to get you results.  It is called....

My No Excuses Just Results Workout

Warm-Up:  Do each for a minute.

High Knees

Run in Place

Jumping Jacks

or 

Run 1 mile

Main Workout:  Do Each Circuit 2-3 times before moving to the next 

Circuit One:

20 Squats (weighted if advanced)

15 Squat Jumps

10 burpees

Circuit Two

20 Mountain Climbers

15 Push Ups

10 Bridges

Circuit Three

20 Lunges

15 Leg Lifts

10 Calf Raises

Core Work: Do each move for a minute

Russian Twist

Elbow Plank

Bicycle Crunches

Side Plank (each side)

Now this is just for starters, you can always customize your workout to fit your wants and needs.  I hope this helps someone who has been thinking of starting a workout plan.  Remember that in order to get results you must have consistency.  Don't get discouraged when you don't get what you expected, be encouraged and motivated to try harder. 

My Active Prepared Life: I'm Back

"Today and for a lifetime discouragement will follow you and keep you company if you allow it to do so.  "

Discouragement and negativity are no strangers to any of us.  It is offered on a daily and regular basis it is up to each and every one of us to accept or reject it.  Don't quit because it seems to hard.  Don't give up because someone said it's impossible.  Don't retreat because you're scared.  If you fail you should fail trying.  

Life/General:
Focus on the positive, reject the negative.
Focus on my goals.
No more potty mouth. Yep, I say bad words.

Health/Fitness:
Drink water all week.
Work out 5 days this week.

Finance:
No more spending.

It's going to be a great week with many accomplishments.  It does not matter who told you that your dream is impossible.  Do not dwell in negativity and discouragement.  Be happy even if trouble is around the corner...it sure beats being down.

My Active Prepared Life #2: Goals This Week

Disclaimer:  Let me start out by saying that by posting these goals I am letting everyone who reads this into my life.  I like my privacy and doing this actually makes me very uncomfortable but it is what's best because by announcing my goals to my readers I am establishing some accountability as many of you pointed out in my initial post that summarized the plan (The Active Prepared Life). Thank you for reading and coming on this journey with me. 

Categories:
Life/General
Health/Fitness
Career
Financial


This week there are only four categories because after completing last weeks goals in the 'love' category.  My relationship with my significant other has improved tremendously thus leaving me feeling very secure.  So I removed that category because at the moment my love life is satisfactory.  If I begin to feel anything less than secure I'll definitely revisit that category.  Now onto this weeks goal.

Life/General
1.  Meditate/Pray daily
2.  Actively think positive thoughts

Health/Fitness
1.  Work out at least 5 days this week
2.  Eat Clean

Career
1.  Assist whenever needed
2. Ask for more responsibilities

Finance
1.  Create a budget
2.  No more spending