Progress

At this point I think the thing that I've noticed the most is an improvement in my energy level. While I haven't really noticed a difference in my appearance, I don't feel as tired at the end of the day. It is really great to start feeling a change for the better and seeing results. This whole process has been so encouraging and beneficial. I can't wait to see what comes next.

Healthy Eating Encouragement

Aloha, all. I can second Andrew's comments about eating healthy, and share some tips that might help with making it convenient -- probably the biggest reason many folks don't eat right. If you need quick snacks during the day because your job keeps you hopping, plan ahead when you're grocery shopping: pick up baby carrots or other veggies you like, and pair with things like salsa or hummus. Grab fresh fruit for when those sugar cravings strike. Mix a handful of nuts into a cup of yogurt. For breakfast trade the doughnut for a bowl of oatmeal mixed with fruit and nuts (my favorite is apples, cinnamon, and pecans). Make places like Fresh n' Easy or Trader Joe's your friend -- if you haven't shopped there, they have lots of healthy convenience foods that won't break your budget. I keep an insulated lunchbag in my desk each day with an assortment of healthy options (yogurt, fruit, veggies, homemade smoothies, etc.) and a couple of icepacks to keep it fresh. Once you change your eating habits for the better you'll find you probably don't even want to go back to the junk. :) Hang in there and keep up the great work!
Teresa

Whew a great work out!

Yesterday's work out was great. I struggled a bit on the cardio, but once we got started with the weights it went well. Andrew is changing up the routine and I like the weight machines. I can tell I have better strength in my legs and arms, but I still have a ways to go with the sit ups/push ups. Overall I feel good. I was not as tired at the end of the session this time. I really appreciate my group. They continue to encourge me. I need that at my age. Andrew makes the hr and 1/2 go by fast. He is truely interested in our progress, but is very patient with me....the routines seem to get lost in my memory and thank goodness for my group they help me remember which one to do next!

Eating Habits Are the X-Factor In Any Weight Loss Program

I'm noticing a trend from all of your posts that your eating habits are satisfactory at best.  I appreciate your honesty, because that is the first step in making a behavior change.  Eating habits can either accelerate success or stop it dead in its tracks.  What we consume on a daily basis is just as important if not more than our physical activity.  Exercise and nutrition go hand in hand and are the perfect marriage for living a healthy life.  You can't do one or the other and expect amazing results.  Sure you can lose weight doing either or, but why limit yourself.  Maximum results occur when both are n'sync.  I'm not a nutritionist nor claim to be, but I can offer you basic nutritional advice that will point you in the right direction.  I also encourage you to invest in the nutritional program offered here at the SRC.  It will help you more than I can and offers plenty of ways to improve your diet.  For example, you can track the foods you eat and the program can suggest foods that will meet your nutritional needs in order to develop a well balanced meal plan.  Watch a free demo on the SRC web page under the Personal Training Tab.  Its not easy breaking nutritional habits that have been with you since childhood, so STAY ENCOURAGED.      

Sadat - Week 2 and 3

Hey All.

Sorry its been a bit since i posted last.

Last week was not so good for me. Monday, I was not feeling well (read that as i stayed up too late after the superbowl) so i did not participate. Wed had a pretty good leg workout in Sparky's yard, and then Friday i missed again! Bad Sadat! Although i did not have a good week of working out, for the most part, i was able to maintain on my diet. so, at least i was not packing on the calories like crazy.

This week was a little better, although i missed mondays workout due to some work obligations, i enjoyed the work outs that Andrew put together for Wednesday. We started using some free weights which i have been anticipating so that made it more strenuous and butt kicking for me. Fridays workout also did a good job on the legs.

Overall, i am breaking through the slumber of not doing much over the past few months. Its nice to get back to being active again and will continue to work harder each week. I am down about 4-5 lbs since the beginning of the program, so at least there is some results to motivate me to push through the semester. hopefully, i will be able to get better at setting aside time during the off days of Ready Set Goal to get my own workouts in, or attend a group fit class.

happy Friday all.

Hello,

Where do I even start? I will say that I am enjoying my work-outs with Andrew since they do add a variety to my normal workout routine. Before I began this program, I was already working out 5 times a week during my lunch hour. I'm not very disciplined in that I can just go the the gym and get on some type of cardio equipment and work out for 30 minutes or an hour, so what I do instead is take the group fitness classes which are offered at lunch, and which I enjoy tremendously. During the first week of the program, I was feeling as if I had made a mistake and should have just stuck with my normal routine of attending the fitness classes, but then Andrew changed up what he had me doing and now I feel as if I'm being challenged, and each week it's getting better.

I can't say that physically I feel a big difference, but I know that has a lot to do with my eating habits. I can go for weeks eating realy well, and then, because I am an emotional eater, there are certain times during the month that I just can't keep food out of my mouth (and unfortuantely it's not healthy stuff I'm sticking in there). 10 years ago, when I became pregnant with my first child, I was teaching aerobics and was a health fanatic, once he was born and life got a little crazy, it seems that I go for simplicity rather than health. :( Being a single mother of two kids, that are involved in as many extra-curricular activities as my kids, does not leave a lot of time for myself, so I'm just glad that I even have the opportunity to hit the gym on my lunch hour, otherwise, I couldn't imagine what I'd look/feel like with my eating habits and NOT working out... OUCH! LOL! I think at this point working out only keeps me from not weighing 300 pounds, but what I really want it to do, is make a difference in my appearance. Thank goodness I enjoy it so much.