Day 3 - Choose to commit. Choose to win!

Today I *almost* listened to that Day 3 voice that often says, "You can take a break.  You deserve it.  This is haaaard!"

I almost skipped my Insanity Day 3 - Cardio Power & Resistance workout to go to lunch with my roommate.

But part of me knew it was a hard-as-anything workout that I would not want to make up later this evening.  That's what I've previously allowed to happen; I push my supposed "priorities" & commitments aside when they get too hard to live up to.  Then I kick myself.

Today, I insisted I needed to workout.

So I did.

And I still had time to have a healthy lunch with her after.

Huzzah for changing some deep ruts in my brain for better ones!

Day 2 - Deep Water

So, I'm 33 years old, Black woman from the South.  Never learned to swim.

Some other people dispute that because I can dog-paddle myself from one end of the pool to the other as long as I can keep my head under water and/or make it in one breath.  I maintain I can't swim until I can tread water without fearing for my life.

Yesterday was my first time ever to swim laps in 11-ft deep water with a kickboard.  Heart pounding, probably flop-sweating but you couldn't see it because I'm in the water, I eventually psyched myself up enough to make it all the way across the pool.  Whoo-hoo!

After a while I was able to open my eyes underwater.  I noticed that the water looked much better in the deep end of the pool - where I felt I was in more danger - than in the shallow end.  In the shallow end the water was murky, the lanes were more crowded, and I could easily see the debris floating around.  It was a little bit gross.

Out in deeper water I couldn't see or stand on the bottom and had to trust physics actually works and I do, in fact, float.  Out there, beyond the BLACK LINE OF SELF-LIMITING DANGER at 5.5 feet the water was bluer and crystal clear and more peaceful.  Fewer people were out there thrashing around.

So, I feel a metaphor coming on.  (Blame those 2 semesters as an English major.)

Could it be that when I push myself beyond those self-imposed limits and irrational fears, my heart will pound, I'll break out into a flop sweat, and it'll be okay anyway?

And could it be that when I look around after I've pushed myself beyond what I think I can do, I'll find a beautiful new world and a compelling new perspective around me?  Hmmm.

Rocktober First!

01 October 2012 - 91 days left in 2012!

And what are you going to do with it?

One of my favorite sayings is 'The best time to plant a tree was 100 years ago. The second best time is today.'

So yeah, it would have been awesome if I'd learned how to make a *realistic* schedule & stick to it back in January like I intended.

And it would have been spectacular if I had started Insanity with the proper intent & a support system in place back in March so I'd be at my goal weight for my 33rd birthday in May.

And -Lord love a duck - it would have been aaaah-maze-ing if I had been building my savings all this time so I'd have more of a cushion.

But I didn't.

So now I can either wallow in shame and blame and recrimination...

Or I can get to work!

Insanity - Day 37 - Max Interval Plyo

Alright - so I'm back in the saddle again!  Just finished Max Interval Plyo for the first time.

These hour long workouts are kickin' my tail!  In a good way, though.  I can definitely tell that my body is adjusting from the 30-minute workouts to the 60-minute-ers.  There's a point where my body's saying, "Alright!  That's the 27 minute mark so let's push hard for this last rotation and we'll be outta here!"

But then my mind says, "Au contraire, mon ami!  We've got another 28 minutes or so! But thanks for that second wind!"

I can tell this month is gonna kick my tail.  Which is good.  Because I've gotta hoist my body weight over a wall in about 60 days!  Urgh!

Shakeology Cleanse - Day 3 Done!

So, I've lost about 8 pounds - which is awesome!

But more than that, I feel more in control of my eating habits.  All the starchy, sugary carbs I was craving & ate in great quantity - I feel like I can resist them now.  Mainly because I'm feeling pretty good about how my body is humming along.  I'm rehydrated.  I've cleared the crap outta my system and I'm ready to reboot on Insanity!

I ran for 3 miles on the last morning of the cleanse.  That worked out well, I just was extra hungry after my salad dinner so I added a large banana at the end of the night.

So yeah, definitely worthwhile.  Hard as I was working to train myself to not use food as a reward for a job well done.  And I know my sugar and salt and fat and general nastiness cravings aren't gone forever, but mentally I know I can work through them.  And that's HUGE!

Feelin' good!  Ready to hit training for the Tough Mudder with full force!  Combining an "easier" half marathon running plan with Insanity and eating good, nourishing food is gonna do it!  Whoo-hoo!

Shakeology Cleanse: Day 2 Done!

Day two of the cleanse down!

Okay, I've done the cleanse before and had to give it up after day 2.  This time I'm feeling strong and capable, ready and raring to go for day 3.  What's different?

Well, this time I know what to expect.  I know how to modify my energy expenditure and I'm keeping my aggravation level as low as possible.

Also, this time, I'm aware of how ~amazing~ Shakeology is for my body.  I once was off Shakeology for 2 weeks due to a snafu on my part.  Holy crap, I felt like death on toast.  I was still eating well and exercising, but I had *no* energy, my face was a grease pit, and my digestion wasn't too thrilled with me either.

So, after day two - I'm pretty sure my innards are scrubbed out ;)

Also, water is important, but again, best friends with the bathroom.

Feeling pretty good.  Still distracted as all get out by all the various yummy and healthy and really, really NOT healthy food out there.  Staying focused on staying on the plan.

Also, a friend and I have monthly cycles that have synced.  I spent yesterday kinda bleh but otherwise okay.  A little tired because I've recently started training for a new position at work.  I went from working nights to working days and was using coffee the first week to stay awake.  I cut that out during the cleanse.  I don't normally drink a lot of coffee so it's not hard for me to kick.  But I'm still a bit tired.  The friend was PMS'ing bad and needed some fast food and gave into her cravings.  She felt great while she was eating it but felt like crap about 15 minutes later.  I know that feeling.  I've done that so many times.  Urgh.  Now making plans for next month.

Onto day 3!

Shakeology 3-Day Cleanse: Day One Done!

What's the Shakeology Cleanse, you ask?

First - Shakeology is this awesome meal replacement shake.  Comes in Greenberry, Chocolate, and Vegan Tropical Strawberry.  Recently I've been on a Strawberry kick.

Normally you drink one shake for breakfast or to replace another meal or snack.  It's freakin' amazing - like a scrub brush for your innards.  Magic in a glass!

But, since I celebrated my 33rd birthday for about 2 weeks prior, I needed to clear out the system and reset things a bit.

So the Shakeology Cleanse lasts 3 days.  During which you eat:

Upon waking:

1 cup of green tea upon rising in morning

Breakfast:

1 serving of Shakeology with ice and water (fruit is optional, no more than a cup)

Snack 1:

1 piece of fruit (your choice)

Lunch:

1 serving Shakeology with ice and water (fruit optional)

1 cup of green tea

Snack 2:

(Last snack of day can be done either before or after dinner)

1 serving Shakeology with ice and water

Dinner:

Salad and 3 serving of greens and vegetables, 4 ounces of protein (fish or poultry), and no more than two tablespoons of low fat dressing.

 

- You may want to add the optional fruit to Shakeology if you're doing an intense exercise program during the cleanse.

- Drink 2-4 liters of water each day.

 

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So, how'd I feel after day one?

- I was really hydrated - which usually isn't an issue.  But dang, the bathroom and I were best friends!

 

- I felt mostly full, just a little hungry and draggy between lunch and my 2nd snack because I had a bigger gap of time there than I anticipated.  It was freeing to know exactly what I'd be eating for the next few days.  

 

- But it was distracting seeing all the snacks and cookies and candies and cupcakes and fast food and other people's lunches at work and recipes I was sorting through.  Urgh. 

 

- Honestly, my life is planned out about as far as my next meal.  Doing this cleanse helps me realize I need to cut down on the number of choices I give myself.  I'm getting better at going down to just a few options for lunch and dinner and snacks that I rotate through, but I'll still go to the store, buy stuff to make 5 recipes.  Maybe I need to just make 2 at a time and eat everything that week and freeze anything beyond that for some later time when I'm desperate.

- I did a 3 mile run this AM and felt good.  Whoo-hoo!  But I'm not gonna run tomorrow.