Weekly Workout Challenge

It's official - I'm gyming it....well I'm thinking about it....the inner workings of working out. I swear this isn't me attempting to procrastinate.  Really, why would I want to put off going to the gym? Picturing myself in stretch pants that are probably too small? Becoming a hot sweaty mess within the first five minutes of running(err...walking on the dreadmill. (that isn't a typo)? Sounds like fun! But in all seriousness, there are a few good reasons why I really need to start doing some physical activity. With those reasons in mind, I spent last night creating the 30 Day Challenge. After searching high and low through all the different types of challenges available (Fitness mag, Evernote, Harry Potter's challenge- the list goes on and on), I knew the only way to success was if I created my own.

 I need to make a change, and since I am kinda obsessed with lists and charts - I spent a good portion of my evening creating a 30 day challenge to help me get closer to my goal.  And if I wasn't motivated enough....Anthropologie helped a little.

 After 5 weeks of going through my self-designed "challenge" and if I actually stick with it,  I am buying this beautiful bird dress from Anthropologie as my reward for sticking with my plan.  A-dorable! I am hoping that with the five week challenge, I will be able to fit into this dress :)



I found when I was attending the regular gym, I didn't like not knowing if I was progressing or not.  In college, the gym I attended had a filing cabinet and you recorded your process on a chart.  However, I have yet to find a place that matches that system.  I had to take it into my own hands.  I found fitbook.  The fitbook by fitlosophy is a handy dandy organizer for the gym.  It neatly tracks your progress for 12 weeks (roughly 3 months).   What I like most about it is the size.  Measuring in at 5 inches, it is small enough to tote around with you, without feeling weighed down.

Hopefully this will be how I start each spring morn!

To start my challenge I am going to do the following for one week (at least 3x), and go from there. I currently do not belong to a gym for various reasons.  Before last week, no gym was open when I got home from work (after 11pm and before 6am) and frankly I didn't fit it into our budget.  Therefore, working out needs to be freeeeee - not $40-20  month.

Will post more when I figure out the details of my plan :) Till then, happy workout!

If a Caveman could do it....

Dear Bread and all my favorite desserts,
  We had a long run.  31 years together.  Well - maybe more like 30 years, because I don't think I was ingesting you straight from my day of birth.  Bread? You have made the wait for my meals when I am out seem shorter.  You are the walls of my lunch cuisine.  You make butter and jelly possible.  Bagels  - you lit up my Friday mornings.  To Chocolate cake? What would birthdays be without you and your heavenly goodness?  Your presence on my birthday is present enough.
 But it's time we part ways.  Little do you know that after I chow down on you, I get this heavy feeling in my stomach - but it's not the good kind.  I feel bloated, tired, and just want to curl up and nap.  Is that the way love should make you feel?  I don't think so.  2013 is the year we separate.  It's not you - it's me.  I just think I have outgrown you.  I don't think my body can handle you and your temptation any longer. I just keep expanding and expanding, and not in ways I am proud of.
I hope you understand. 

Always in my heart just not in my tummy,
Kara


This is my breakup letter to wheat and processed foods. For the next 30 days I am going on the WHOLE30. Can I do it? I hope so. It will be hard, and there will be days I just want to come crawling back, but I think this is what I need. A clean split.  Breakups don't have to be drawn out.  I said my goodbyes, and I will try not to look back.  I think it's better for everyone around.

 I've had the good fortune to have read, It Starts With Food.  Unable to remember the ubber amount of information, I'm fortunate that my husband retains most of the things I gasp and inform him of. Otherwise, I would constantly stand with the fridge open, questioning, "Can I eat that? What about this?" So is my life.
One of my friends, decided to get on the Whole30 bandwagon without doing her homework. Sometimes that works.  The first and failed time I tried, I went blindly in.  I went in because Mr. wanted to do it and I thought it would be "fun".  snort. Really. I am not kidding.  The first time I quit after 13 days, so this time around I plan to stick it out.

Whole30 = 30 day nutritional challenge
(If you know me personally, you know I love challenges. and prizes. My prize for this challenge is hopefully fitting into my pants again!)

What you need to know about WHOLE30 (The Do Nots of the Program)

• Do not consume alcohol. That includes any wines, beers, hard liquor.  Regular paleo eating allows you to drink tequila, but for the 30 day challenge - nothing with wheat or sugar.
• No dairy products Including any yogurts, sour cream, milk, and creamer.  I have not drank coffee in a week because I refuse to get used to black coffee.  yuck. 
• No wheat For me, this was a blessing. I definitely am effected by this.  Wheat is in pretty much everything!  This also means soy.  Yo no soy. 
• No sugar Sugar sugar everywhere.  I spent almost an hour looking at tea ingredients in ShopRite, trying to find a flavored tea without any form of sugar.  Sugar and artificial sweeteners.  Stevia leaf.  nada.  
• No legumes No beans.  Beans beans not so good for the heart.  And yes - the more you eat them, the more you......
• No MSG or sulfites
• No white potatoes  But sweet potatoes are wonderful!

This program is strict, but the end result will be worth it!

Proclamation

With all the ideas swimming around in my head, I think it's best to introduce myself. Hi! My name is Kara, and I am inactive.  As in completely inactive. With my inactivity, combined with VERY poor dietary choices the past oh-let's say, seven years, I have gained a few pounds....and by few I mean I gained another person. Literally, in college I was half my weight I am now.  It was only up until my most recent vacation with my family, when showing the pictures after we got back - I noticed a woman in all the photos.  I wondered who the thick lady was constantly hugging my son or embracing my husband?  E-gads! It was me!  How did I let this happen?!  

After 7 years of up and down the scale, with painful aches after eating or overeating, I proclaimed at the end of 2012 that this would be different.  I hope to discover that girl/lady/woman I was years ago, and actually appreciate her for the first time.

So here it goes. A few colleagues introduced It Starts With Food, and decided to jump in feet first (not my typical toe testing water method).

Basically, for 30 days Mr. and I will eat nothing but whole food - nothing processed, sugary, or dairy.  I was really into it when we went grocery shopping - thinking and shouting out all the delicious healthy recipes we can make. I was really into it until last night when we were cleaning out the pantry, and everything I held up, I whined, "Wait - I can't eat this either?! What?" So it went on for four shelves worth of food.  It was painful to think about.  However, when I woke up this morning, I decided I would try to have a new attitude, because I was the one to proclaim I wanted to do this.  So with the support and guidance of Mr, and 3 co-workers, we are all on the 30 day challenge.

Instead of focusing on the things that I WON'T have, I probably should focus on what I will gain (or hope to gain).

I hope to gain a stronger positive self image

I hope to gain physical strength

I hope to gain an understanding of what my body needs

I hope rediscover my love of food - real food

(and perhaps a more selfish goal) I hope to fit into my clothes instead of feeling like a stuffed sausage

It's these five statements I should focus on, but the inability to eat ice cream or a handful of cookies.  Where does that leave me? Oh yeah - four pant sizes bigger.  Good grief!

On the first day of school last year, our superintendent (a lady I admired and loved) showed us a video to help motivate us to keep our spirits high. Living in a state that educators were under scrutiny, she wanted to let us know she supported us.  

Here's to not giving up! Here's to believing in yourself! I can do this. I can change. I want to be the best version of me. 

Here's to you! Here's to me! Here's to change!
Let this blog hold me accountable and hopefully add a little humor to this journey that lays ahead! 


3/11/13/231/37
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