Ah, the “D” word.
I am no stranger to the “D” word.
In high school, I tried everything from juice fasts, flaxseed shakes, and, yes, even baby food.
Then, I was hit with the freshmen fifteen. It wasn’t until I moved to Los Angeles that I really embraced exercise and a high protein diet.
Within months, just under thirty sweet pounds= gone.
Note: The healthy way.
(May 2006/ February 2007)
How did I do it?
I did an hour of high-intensity cardio a minimum of 3-4 times per week.
To keep my routine fun, I’d occasionally add dance, kickboxing, and boot camp classes with my amazing roommate. I worked with a personal trainer every couple of weeks, who focused specifically on strength training. Even if you can’t afford one on a regular basis, it is worth the one-time investment for a beginner learning proper technique. Plus, every body is different.
They can help cater your work out to your personal goals.
My strength routine primarily consisted of:
As for my “diet”, I never cried into my flaxseed concoction limited myself like I had in the past. I did, however, incorporate more protein. After working out, I’d have a protein shake or grab a palm-size piece of grilled chicken for dinner. If I was craving something sweet, I would opt for a Double Fudge Brownie ProMax protein bar.
(May 2011/ May 2009)
Unfortunately, a break-up my senior year sent my weight back up.
To lose those nagging extra pounds, I took my workout up a notch post-college.
I adopted Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred into my routine. The program consists of three 20-minute workouts, which combine strength, cardio, and abs. To this day I use it when I’m short on time but still want to accomplish a good workout. Combined with healthier eating, I lost roughly 20 pounds.
I eventually conquered my greatest challenge: running. What I didn’t expect, though, was the impact it would have on my body. Instead of shrinking, I gained weight! I was (and am) an entire 10 pounds over my college weight.
With wedding season fast approaching, it’s time to re-evaluate my FitNess get my act together fast.
This isn’t The Biggest Loser or Extreme Weight Loss. While those shows are great, I’m just a relatively average-sized girl trying to be, well, a little less average. I don’t know about you, but losing ten pounds when you are already frequently hitting the gym, changing up your routine, and incorporating strength might as well feel like mission impossible.
So, it’s time to get motivated again!
It’s time to focus on healthier eating, which I’ll be sharing with you in upcoming posts. It’s time to get rid of diets and start making better choices. Plus, I signed up for my second half marathon in September and am ready to kick my workout routine back into high gear.
Whether you need to lose 10 pounds or 50 pounds, today is the day to start. You can do it.
I’ve found that incorporating healthier eating and exercise not only makes you look better, but more importantly, you feel better.
We want to know!
How do you stay motivated?
What helps you kick-start a diet healthier lifestyle?