Writing out the plan! Staying on the plan!

So the daily life as I know it is about to change, which means the schedule is about to change.  I still want to work out 90% of the week, but will definitely have to focus and prioritize, making full use of every minute of the day.  My workouts have been great and I don't want to have any reverse of what I have worked so hard for once I figured out what works for my body.

The school and sport season is about to start and I am focusing on a plan to stay on track. A benefit of a 24 hour gym is that I have no excuses, so I have no reason not to stick to my plan.  All that seems to need to happen is get rid of any distractions and I will soon figure out what those are.  A couple of months ago I got rid of candy crush, instagram, panda jam, pinterest and some other app I had, it's amazing how much time they were taking up.

Since their are 24 hours in a day and 8 of them should be devoted to sleep, prioritizing will be the key.  I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Phil. 4:13  This is my motto to stay on track, God said it so I can do it!

Taking it one day at a time

Setting goals and focusing on the end result is not a good idea for me, but if  I take it one day at a time I seem to get better results! Rushing to the finish line without going thru the process will only lead to unnecessary frustrations! Knowing what I need to do and just doing for each day allows me to have small victories. 

Maybe I have a clearer focus since I've been running, at least it seems that way to me or maybe the drive is more set in now. The more I live the healthier I want to be. As a child on occasion I recall the times of going to the hospital for relatives or family friends and seeing them with all these tubes and monitors, along with not being very responsive. These pictures are still in my memories and I always said as a child, I don't want the end of my life to be that way for me or those around me. So as far as what I can do, which is eat foods that are good for me, exercise and stay close to God so He can guide me is all I can do. My choices affect the outcome, because I think of God's law of sowing and reaping.  I will do my best and let God take care of the rest!

I will honor God with my body.

Loving running

Running is so fun, and so relaxing once you find that groove or focus for why.  Some may think this is crazy, but don't knock it until you have truly tried it, I love it!  Along with eating better, I am also exercising better as well.  Cardio is my top priority, there is so much variety, the elliptical machine, the bike, treadmill and running (outside).  On my non run days the elliptical is my first choice, but if they are all taken at the gym, then I settle for the bike.

The exercises I have despised in the past are the ones that I need to do the most to stay in shape, it's funny how that works. The same thing even applies for foods, but knowing what is good and most beneficial for my health makes me suck it up and just do it! Life is more than just food, it's about enjoying family and friends, growing and learning, loving and encouraging those around us! Find a reason to do what you know is best for health, do it and others will notice, actions speak so much louder than words.

I am staying focused

Lifestyle changes and not diet, that's how I stay focused. Knowing that I need to develop better habits I had before is just a lifestyle change, nothing more, it's not a diet, it's not oh my God I'm over forty or whatever else people try to throw my way. Each day I learn something new about myself embrace it if it's good and let it go if it's not!

That being said my plan for the month of August is to have a veggie juice a day (carrots and head of romaine lettuce), bonus juice would be watermelon juice. I don't think I will be posting exactly what I eat everyday, because what I eat is pretty basic and boring, but beneficial to my body.  On a regular basis I eat Turkey ( ground turkey, turkey patty), green beans, black beans, avocados and now that it is summer, salads are back in the rotation, but mostly juice because I can just sit and drink. It's almost like the lazy way to stay healthy, in my opinion and I love it!

I worked out this morning with weights, upper body and abs, and light cardio ( walk on treadmill for 30 minutes). My workout plan is more cardio, which seems to work best for MY body type. So twice a week I plan to use weights, twice a week I plan to run and the other days I will vary my cardio with the elliptical, a spin class and maybe the stationary bike. Working out for me needs to be various or I get bored (easily). 

When I give out information, I can't stress enough this is what I have found over many years of trial and error that works for me. What works for me may not work for you and we all have different body types, genes and all that stuff, so love your body, embrace who you are and stop comparing yourself to other ladies.  Yes, I too had to and still have to focus on me, I am a great me and I am the only one who can be me!

Consistency and focus makes it happen!

getting it all together

So here I go again, Sunday I pretty much had turkey and cabbage all day long, yes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For snacks in between I had watermelon and pecans. Later that evening my son bought us all dessert with his own money and of course I couldn't say no to that! Yep coconut ice cream again.
My weekend habits led me to the gym this morning to lift weights and run on the treadmill. Wednesday I am to run with a friend and wanted to let my body know that running will be back in the schedule. If I plan to have coconut ice cream on the weekends I have to do way more cardio!!!!!
One thing I have found out is that as long as I don't have flour products, white potatoes/French fries, pasta or rice I have seen my bloated belly go down drastically in the last 7 days.
This being over forty is an awesome journey and I love it, just have to get a handle on what I eat, because what I used to eat or how much I use to eat is not flat belly friendly. (LOL)
Well that's all for now, tell you more soon.

Uh oh!

Okay so it's Saturday, there is a family event today.  More of that in a minute. So as usual I started my day with water and coffee, breakfast was chicken sausage, green onions, green beans and 1/4 avocado, two hours later I had watermelon and this time it didn't bother my tummy, so I waited long enough I guess. Lunch was a turkey patty and sweet potato slices(baked in oven).
This is where it gets interesting, I attended a family event and didn't eat, because of the menu, so upon leaving we went to get more ice cream and I shared fajitas for two. I did not have the chips or corn tortillas, yay me!, but another ice cream, uh oh!
Remember don't be hard on yourself, this is a journey and competition is only with yourself!  Comparing you to someone else is not good and we are all unique in what works for our bodies.

So far my tummy is less bloated and flatter and I think it's because of eliminating chips, corn tortillas and flour products.

Friday fun day!

So it's Friday and I said it is going to be a journey for me to find balance in my eating habits along with exercise and not deprive myself of a treat. Limited as they may be, weekends only and really only one day of the week, there will still be a treat involved.

Today I started with a 15oz. Cup of water, 1/2 c. Coffee ( you will notice the same start daily), went for a workout 30 minutes elliptical and weights total body, leftovers from dinner to refuel, later after errands turkey patty and green beans, went swimming and had chicken sausage, onions and green beans all mixed together, now comes the treat. This evening I will have "So delicious coconut milk ice cream-butter pecan".

I have a few food limitations and don't consume dairy products, wheat, chocolate, peanuts, soy, and some other stuff. Please this has been my way of life for several years, so don't feel sad for me, or say it can't be done, I've had to do it and actually it's been good for me. Now I just have to eliminate the so called substitutes they make in place of what I can't eat, which I have found are not helpful at all! Flour in any form doesn't work for my body at this stage in my life.

Well gotta go enjoy my treat!