Over the Hump

Can I first say how fast April flew by? Wow! I can’t believe it’s already May—almost summer—and we’re halfway done with our 60-day challenge! Even though I still have a long way to go, I am feeling great with the progress I’ve made and the changes I see(no matter how small they might be).

My clothes are fitting better each week and I’m more motivated to go for a run or hit the gym everyday. I’ve also noticed my new, healthier diet is having me feeling lighter and more energetic. Instead of feeling sluggish and ridiculously full after a huge pasta dinner, I feel refreshed and content after a nice piece of fish and salad.
This isn’t to say that the whole process is getting easier—because I can assure you it is not. But the power of results and a positive attitude are infectious and overwhelming. I know I need to work for every little bit of change I want, and that is perfectly OK with me. I’m ready for the challenge and can’t wait to see what the next half of our challenge will bring!
To the gym!
Dana

As Time Goes By

As more days pass and the starting point of 60 days gets further and further away, the ending day seems to be approaching even faster. At first I was pleasantly surprised with the results showing on my scale. After a few initial lost numbers, though, it seems I’ve hit a plateau. That can’t be right, can it? I thought that only happened when you’re tying to lose the last five pounds, not after the first five.
I think it’s fair enough to say right now that I’m a little frustrated. I’ve been doing a decent job with exercising on a regular, if not daily, basis and I’ve been trying to eat much healthier. But there is still not as much of a change as I’ve been hoping for. Even so, it is still weight lost and not gained – which is always an accomplishment in my book.
I am not discouraged. Not yet, at least. I will continue with my exercise and healthy diet, but I might have to up my intensity a little sooner than I was predicting. With six weeks to go, I really have to buckle down and I know pretty soon I will be glad I did.

Dana

Not so hump day

Since I have started on this health plan, I have noticed some changes:

1. In just one week, it's already gotten easier. During the first few days, I felt as if I went into withdrawal from sugar, which left me feeling tired, cranky and annoyed that I couldn't eat my nightly bar of chocolate or steal some chips from the pantry. But I pushed through, and it seems the overwhelming desire for bad foods has subsided a bit—finally. It's awesome. 

2. I am more in-tune with my body. This brings up both good feelings and a bad feelings. On one hand, I notice every ache and pain, and every muscle that tightens. Laughing is a challenge after a day of crunches. Stairs are like an obstacle course after a night of lunges. But on the other hand, while I was in my hot yoga class this morning, I could feel my lungs expand to their fullest capacity, and I had a moment of total body consciousness that magnified the  strength I posses. It was a fantastic feeling.

3. Energy is flowing. I feel more awake, more creative and more, well, just more. I have energy to take on activities I would roll my eyes about a mere seven days ago, and I can now wake up at 5 a.m. without excessive whining. In just a week of eating healthy, it's a very noticeable change.

4. I am smiling more. I am quite a happy person anyways, but I had noticed a drop in my joy and excitement for my day-to-day activities over the past month (I blame the wedding stress).  Health and fitness has given me the extra oomph and boost I needed. I feel more positive, which in turn is making others act more positively to me. What a spectacular power that gives me to take on all of life's challenges!

5. My body is beginning to change. No, I have not stepped on the scale yet. I'll do that this Sunday and see if there has been any movement on my number—but even if there isn't, I hope I'll be happy. Why? Because my body is already tighter and leaner looking. Not by a ton—there are no overnight miracles to report about, but my clothes are fitting a little better. Hey, every little bit counts and I am excited to see any change at all!

I hope that all of you who are beginning a health journey or taking your health commitment to the next level are feeling these changes as well. When you notice them, take a "yay me" break and relish each mini-achievement! What have you noticed today? 

60 days to a better body

As many of you know, my wedding is right around the corner. In fact, tomorrow marks the 60-day countdown. That's a mere two months until "I do." For the past few months, I have been tweaking my diet and adding exercise into my weekly routine to get me where I want (or need) to be, and I am just beginning to notice a change. 

Like any of you out there who have a major deadline approaching such as a family or high-school reunion or just the fact that bikini season lurking around the corner, you know that teeny tiny changes won't cut it. This is precisely why tomorrow, with 60 days left until my wedding, I will embark on a fitness and health journey to banish this extra flab on my body, and reveal the bikini-struttin', shorts-wearing, sleeveless-top-donning slender Tova that I want to be. 

I work better as a team, so I have enlisted Blush Editorial Assistant, Dana to do the program with me. Since she, too, dreams of parading on the beach this summer in an itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny, yellow polka-dot number, she is willing to go through a torturous two months free o ice cream with me. 

The best part about this Blush challenge, is that we are going to share it with you—Blush readers—every step of the way. I keep hearing from fitness enthusiasts that accountability is key. So, I am now accountable to Dana, and every single one of you. If you need the accountability too, then buddy up and log on to the blog—and you can choose to do the program with us, or laugh at our fun-loving attempts to try anything.

So...to task No. 1

I told Dana today that we MUST take "before" pictures. She wasn't too happy about this, but I feel it's necessary for everyone to look at themselves and love their bodies the way it is today, before any of us can expect more out of it. So, that's right, tomorrow we are both grabbing a camera and snapping a few shots. 

Now, I must say, I am a wee bit terrified to put on a swimsuit of any kind right now, but that's the point. I need to know and come to terms with where I am right now. So that means weighing in and snapping the evidence. It's quick and relatively painless—and anyone can do this step. But this doesn't mean I am showing you guys...yet. 

I received food guidelines via Dolvett Quince, celebrity fitness trainer at Body Sculptor Inc.—a highly respected gym facility in Atlanta, Ga (www.bodysculptorinc.com). I am sharing these tid bits with you, if you choose to get on the plan as well.

Now on to the program guidelines:

Include a protein source at each meal. 

Include a healthy fat source at each meal. Healthy fats include extra virgin olive oil, ev coconut oil, raw butter, avocados, and nuts (but not peanuts and cashews). Fats from whole organic eggs and meats are OK. Trans fats, on the other hand, are not healthy fats. 

Include a fibrous carbohydrate at each meal. Good fibrous cabs include vegetables and fresh fruit. 

Only include a serving of Complex Carbohydrates after a workout. Complex (good) carbs include brown rice, natural grains, oatmeal, millet, quinoa, beans and sweet potatoes. 

Eat every 2-3 hours. This means you will be eating 5-7 small meals each day. Here's a sample schedule for eating: 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Drink 1/2 of your body weight in clean water each day. This means, if you are 200 lbs, you should be drinking 100 ounces of H20 daily. And, add an additional 8 ounces of water for every cup of coffee you have.

Avoid all processed non-foods. This even includes "health bars" 

No more processed sugar and artificial sweeteners. Now, I know you ladies might like your pink, blue and yellow packets, but these chemicals can lead to some serious weight gain by making your body crave sugar. If you would like something to add sweetness, try Stevia—a plant-based alternative. They have this at Greenlife Grocery, and other health food stores, and now can even be found at typical grocery stores as well. Check out www.sweetleaf.com for more information.

Eliminate all wheat from your meal plan. I know this sounds extreme, but this is what Dana and I will do. I actually can't have wheat due to an intolerance to it, but most people are highly intolerant to products containing wheat and are unaware. Even if you don't have any problems with wheat, it can still cause that lower-ab area to pooch with gastrointestinal distress.

Add a high-quality Omega 3 supplement in your meal plan.

Take one "reward" meal per week. This is so you can have that cake you've been eyeing all week in the fridge, or enjoy a birthday party or special occasion. One splurge meal won't get you off track, don't worry. 

OK, that's it! Tomorrow we begin, stay tuned! E-mail me with updates and questions: editor1@blushmag.net.

We can do this together!  

With hope,

Tova