Fitness Funnies

Motivation Monday

I'm back! Updates, Dietbet, Etc.

Hey PosiFIT Beauties!

Yes, I'm alive. Sorry I disappeared on you guys.

I feel like I owe you guys an explanation.

So, a couple months ago I became really stressed and busy. It happens to the best of us, right? Well, on top of graduations, weddings (best friends), birthdays and other celebratory events, I didn't have much free time and let my health & fitness not be my biggest priority.

I tend to go by balance - at home, I try to eat really well and clean. I don't buy processed foods and cook all my meals. When I'm out with friends or celebrating something, I let myself indulge and eat whatever I want. This usually is my "cheat meal" of the week and doesn't affect my weight at all. In fact, it's a popular belief that one cheat meal a week can help speed up your metabolism. As long as it's not a good portion of your meals for the week (I like to do just one, sometimes two), it's not a big deal.

Health and fitness is meant to improve your life, but not keep you from living it, so I didn't want to not eat anything. I mean, one of the biggest things at any celebratory event. Food. And it's usually not healthy, unless a health nut is hosting it. ;)

Well celebrating several times a week added up, and in one month I gained about 6 lbs (I'm almost positive that at least 5 lbs was water weight/retention).

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Needless to say, I did not freak out, but felt a tad discouraged. So, I joined a Dietbet.

What's a dietbet? Basically you bet a certain amount of money (most popular bets are $25 or $35) that you will lose 4% of your body weight in 31 days. You join whichever Dietbet you like (I joined the Blogilates one, the largest that has ever happened) and there, you'll receive your support and guidance from other Dietbetters or from the creator of that Dietbet. If you don't lose the 4% in the 31 days, then your bet amount, let's say it's $25 is split among the winners (I think Dietbet also takes a percentage out of the winnings as well). If you're a winner, than you'll earn some money.

Now, I'm not huge on using a scale to check my progress overall. But I do like that this monetary bet does motivate me to push myself when I don't feel like it. I've been lax on workouts until this past week (my Dietbet started June 1st), but I've watched what I have eaten carefully. It's not like everyone has access to a bodyfat caliper.

You can also choose to donate a percentage of your winnings to charity, if you choose. How awesome is that?!

When I was thinking it over, I was a bit skeptical. I mean, how do they know people aren't cheating?

Well, you have to take a photo of yourself on a scale in what they call "airport attire." Then, you have to take a photo of the scale with your feet on it and whatever "code word" they email you. If they find your progress suspicious, they will contact you and find other means of validating your weight loss (I believe one of these ways is via Skype).

Anyway. I lost ~5 lbs in the first week... So, I'm going to say that's most likely water weight. I wasn't even eating 100% clean that week, but much better than I had been eating last month.

It's really difficult for me to lose any real weight, but I did meet my goal this morning and even surpassed it by half a pound! Yay! Now, to keep that off until July 1st when I get my last weigh-in code word. I'm going to keep pushing though, and hopefully will drop a bit more weight this week.

I really, really like how supportive and motivating my Blogilates Dietbet teammates are. Many of us post pictures (motivational, sweaty pics, food), cheer others on, ask questions/concerns, our own personal triumphs/victories, or what activities we've participated in on our Newsfeed. Love the interactive aspect.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also, I did notice in the past couple months that my thighs have gotten much more toned. :D Happy dance! My thighs are a major "problem area," or an area where I tend to collect fat. Haha. So, I never thought I'd actually see muscles/definition there. But, at my best friend's bridal shower, we took group photos and I noticed one of my thighs was sort of bulging. Feeling like the Hulk now. Hahaha.

I also have some REALLY exciting news for you all. But it's going to have to wait until my paperwork is processed and it's a for sure thing. But big changes are happening!!! :)

I have some major updates to do soon. No more procrastinating. Ha.

Stay PosiFIT,

Marie

Motivation Monday

----------------------------------------------------------------

Hey PosiFIT Beauties!

So, I'm really optimistic about this upcoming week. We got this. :) 

I've had a lot of bad luck this past week, but still remain positive. I'm also avoiding everyone I know this week, as the stomach flu is going around. My whole family has it. And my friends. STAY AWAY. I love you, but stay away, haha. I have been making tea and such for my mother though, but giving it to her from a distance.

I've only had the stomach flu twice - once as a child and once a year and a half ago when my sister caught it from her client (she's a nurse to a baby) and infected us all. It was so horrible. I don't even. 

So, I've been soaking up the sunshine today in solace (it feels like summer here. 50's to 80's... whaaaat? That's the midwest for you). As I've probably mentioned before, I have a terrible immune system due to the antibiotics that I've been taking for my skin. I'm taking a few days off of it, taking probiotics, eating probiotics (greek yogurt, kimchi), taking Immuno gum (it was in my Klutchbox), taking Zicam, taking Vitamin C supplements/eating what vitamin C rich foods I have on hand and eating really clean. Fingers crossed. I used to have a fairly strong immune system, but I've been sick so much this winter, I'm going to take some precautions.

I'm finally getting up at a decent hour. I know 9am is probably not early for most people. But for me, it is. I'm a night owl. But I loooove the mornings. Sleeping schedule. Fixed. :)

I seriously think using F.lux has helped tremendously. At night, I tend to reach for my computer if I have some extra time on my hands and I like that it dims the computer.

If you want to check it out: 

It's free to download: http://stereopsis.com/flux/

A little excerpt: "During the day, computer screens look good—they're designed to look like the sun. But, at 9PM, 10PM, or 3AM, you probably shouldn't be looking at the sun. f.lux fixes this: it makes the color of your computer's display adapt to the time of day, warm at night and like sunlight during the day.

It's even possible that you're staying up too late because of your computer. You could use f.lux because it makes you sleep better, or you could just use it just because it makes your computer look better."

Oh! And I've also gotten back into Insanity! You're probably thinking, "geez it takes this girl forever to finish it." Haha. I know. I like to fit in other workouts (and gym days once a week) on some days and then I take 1-2 break days a week... and then I had those 2 weeks where I fell into a rut (partially sick during that time period). But I'm still going. I feel like that's all that matters. Finished Month 1 and I'm in the "Recovery Week" before Month 2.

I forgot how difficult Core Cardio & Balance was. I thought it would be like the mid-week Recovery or something. My quads were dying. I don't think it helped that it was almost 80 degrees inside while I was doing it... I felt like I had trouble breathing. I didn't want to turn on the AC until noon though. Stubborn.

Afterwards I did Blogilates workouts (per usual). The VS Arm one and the Best Lower Ab workout. I had a bit of a difficulty keeping form and keeping up, since my body was so sore and shaking. I was planning on doing more, but knew my body wasn't up for it.

Yesterday, I tried 2 new Blogilates workouts that I haven't done yet. I'll post the videos below.

I don't use a broom... I use a Swiffer and a steam mop, haha. I have a Body Bar (3 lbs) and used that instead, though it wasn't quite long enough for some of the balancing moves (I just held it up at chest level instead of using it to balance, since I didn't have too much trouble). Who knew a broom workout could be intense? 

I thought I did this before. But I'm pretty sure I haven't, once I completed it. OhMyGorgeous. My elbows and wrists hurt during this. Having taken a pilates break, I can really feel a difference. Building up that wrist strength again.

Foodwise, I've been following a 7 Day Meal Plan. I feel like I haven't been eating enough protein lately. And during my rut I've indulged in a few sweet treats and have been having massive cravings. This reminds me to eat plenty of protein and veggies, but also stay away from treats. I'm hoping it jumpstarts my metabolism, which I feel has been lagging a bit as of late. 

It's not really difficult to follow the meal plan though. It's not a starvation diet and I feel really full. I add in some seasonings to add flavor (which is recommended, it's just advised to watch sodium) and haven't given up coffee. For the most part though, I stay on-track. I'll post more on this meal plan once I'm finished. 

That's it for now. Stay positive. Reach for your dreams and eat clean.

Love,

Marie

Hiatus... I'm back!

I'm Alive!

Sorry everyone! I sort of disappeared off the face of the earth for the past 2 weeks. I started feeling really sluggish and strangely sore (my mom thinks it was because of all of the rain, haha) and then got sick. Boo. Which means I've also slacked on my workouts and healthy eating habits. When I'm sick, I tend to get super tired and eat lots of carbs/comfort foods. And latkes (yeah... I don't usually like/eat potatoes, but love latkes when I'm sick). Ha. And have Audrey Hepburn and TV Drama marathons. Or drown in books. I didn't gain any weight though (yay!). Such a bad habits, as I'm sure eating better would have helped lift my mood/help me feel better sooner.

So, I feel really bloated. Going to get back into it tomorrow. I feel so much more down when I don't work out and eat as healthy. It really does make quite a bit of a difference on how I feel overall. It was a break I suppose. My body probably needed some time to recoup anyway. I feel like we all go through days of eating über healthy and eating not-so-healthy.

I want to go out for a run, but sadly all of the parks nearby are near rivers and are flooded. :( I suppose I'll do at-home workouts then. I.E. Continue Insanity. It personally takes a lot of mental force to get back into exercising regularly/eating healthy once I've gotten a bit sedentary. But it will happen. I know it'll just make me feel better once I start. And more energetic. And help correct my messed up sleeping habits. Staying positive. :)

--------------------------------------------

On another note, I finally received all of my subscription boxes! I'll try and edit the photos and put up the reviews and such. For a preview, I've received: The Women's Health Birchbox (beauty), Ipsy (2 months, beauty), KlutchBox (healthy & fitness), BuluBox (health & fitness), Vitacost's Be All Box (healthy living). I think that's all of the boxes.

Motivation Monday