Raw Foods Here I Come!

I decided I should work on a vision board to help me focus my energy on attaining my goals. To begin I started thinking today about why I wanted this new body and what it would mean to me. I realized that this is so much deeper than being able to don a midriff bearing top and hot pants. When I think back to when I was most healthy in life, I remember being a cheerleader. I felt fit and strong. I went after what I wanted. I was happy and at peace with myself. So for me, this is about more than my love of dance or wanting to look great in a bikini. This is about releasing the negative behaviors that have crept into my lifestyle to fully embrace a new and improved me.
As I reflected on what I have been doing in the years since I hung up my poms, I realized that I have dibbled and dabbled in almost every weight loss strategy known to modern man and the only one I ever felt really improved me was a raw foods/vegan lifestyle. Once that thought popped into my head, it suddenly became clear that I needed to find a way back. I let it slide when I left my full time job. I mean I visited Whole Foods at least once a day and my average grocery bill was $300 weekly. Now if I can figure out how to make it financially feasible, I truly believe that I can improve my entire being. For those not familiar with the raw food movement, details coming soon.

Keeping Up with the Kardashians

I was feeling under the weather all weekend. I got some rest, took some vitamins and wow this morning I finally feel better. I am so convinced that the crap we put into our bodies keeps us unwell. I truly am on a mission to find optimal health. I'm only 27 and I already have arthritis. Ridiculous! I hope that by respecting my body as a temple will allow me to lead a full, happy and productive life.
I missed my weekly WW meeting with Joanne because I just picked up a lcass at church that is at the same time. If I had thought about that sooner I would have gone to her Friday evening meeting or the 7:30am meeting but I didn't think ahead. I'll be back next week. I did turbo jam this morning and plan to continue for the rest of the week. We'll see how it goes and I'll keep you posted!
On a completely off topic note. . .what in the world? Khloe Kardashian or should I say Odom was married yesterday to a man she dated for somewhere between one and four months? That new body must have gone straight to her head. I hope I still know how to act when I get in shape. Geez! That dress she wore to do her registry was fierce though. At the engagement party Kim, as usual, looked fabulous. I would love to have her wardrobe!

Life is So Hectic

Busy day today. Sundays are now officially designated GRE/application prep day. I just wanted to quickly post the results from last week. I weighed in at 196 at my weekly meeting. Not eating any more than usual and I started working out so I don't know if it is genuine weight gain, bloating, water retention or whatever. I am also in high stress mode as application season is now in full swing. I spent about 7 hours on prep today alone. I'm now exhausted and hungry. Going to find some dinner and get ready for bed. Later!

Finally Ready for a Change . . .

in my state of mind. That's what it will take for me to be victorious in this battle of the bulge. Or maybe I should say bulges. I need to take an update picture but it's so hard. Looking in the mirror can be bad enough but posting photos. Yikes. I promise I will update next weekend.
I weighed in this morning at my second weight watchers meeting and found I am now up 1.2 pounds. Could that have something to do with the regular season of scientific meetings starting up last week. Why is it that a major health institution only serves unhealthy foods. There are meatballs, puff pastries, cookies and cakes galore. I thought I'd be okay at the kickoff luncheon until I saw the giant red velevet cake slices with cream cheese icing. Sigh.
I don't want to carry these pounds around forever so I did what any sane modern day woman would do . . .started looking at detox plans. I decided on Jay Robb's 3 Day Fruit Flush. It's awful. I never had a problem with protein shakes. I guess that's because I always made them with milk. Making a protein shake with water is absolutely disgusting. Oh the things we do for weight loss . . .
I've been talking to hubby about what I am trying to do. He said that I really should set more concrete goals. I agree. I am going to audition in 2010 regardless of what shape I'm in. Maybe that will light just the fire I need. I will post a countdown clock in December when the audition dates are announced. It's generally late March/early April. Until then I will focus on shaving off two pounds a week. I will start doing a weekly progress post on Sundays to keep track of my official stats and my workout of the week (WOW). Talk to you soon . ..

Get You Butt in Gear

Whew! It's been awhile since my last post . . . and my last work. I have been going through a period of deep turmoil in my personal life. The decision to leave my full time teaching position and enter a postbac program was a tough one. My days are long and the financial consequences are often difficult to swallow. I started this journey knowing it would not be easy but even the most motivated of us can be sidetracked. Thankfully the storm has passed for now and I am back on track.
In terms of my fitness goals, I didn't gain any weight during my hiatus but I didn't lose any either. I decided I need a little more structure so I joined weight watchers this past weekend. I thought I was down for the count this morning due to severe menstrual cramps but in retrospect I think it was just the kick in the rear I needed. Consuming processed foods with whatever fillers and chemicals they add in there and not exercising is a recipe for disaster. I think I had months of relatively pain free cycles and forgot what it felt like. Well as I lay in bed writhing and crying I decided I could spend the day like that or I could grit my teeth and suck it up, knowing my choices landed me there.
I got up. Not only did I get up, I exercised anyway. I only managed learn and burn but I am proud of myself for getting up. It still hurts. It hurts badly but I am now finished my breakfast so I am going to hit the shower and get to work. I looked down at my lower body while checking my form and realized that the rolls and cellulite were as much a result of my choices as the cramps. It's time to take responsibility, knowing that my actions each day have consequences. In a few months the application process will be over. Where will I stand? If I continue on this path, I will be worse off than where I started. Still not working on my PhD and more poor than ever before. I have hours of meetings this afternoon and science waits for no man- or in this case woman. Keep moving forward and keep pressing play. Thanks for reading. Later!