Quick Update: Should you develop a regimen?

Should you develop a regimen?

For the past month or two I've been working on developing a regimen to adhere to.  In the beginning I'd sit at my desk for hours the night before jotting down ideas.  I spent precious time sketching out hour by hour tasks and plans for the next day.   Morning would come and I would already be hours behind schedule.  My mid morning snack did not make sense before breakfast, by lunch I was too hungry to bother grilling my veggies and making my own salad dressing, whew!

Often times I succumbed to feeling defeat or failure because I was off schedule.  Eventually, I had to learn use a more holistic and natural approach to developing a routine that works for me.

Challenge Yourself, but do what works for you

So I went back the drawing board.  I decided to break my regimen into smaller increments.  I started focusing on my mornings.  I decided to perfect (or solidify) my morning routine first and build upon that.

The Result:

Ever morning (or at least 80%)

I do gentle stretches before I get out of bed

I have a cup or either warm lemon water or water with apple cider vinegar

I do gentle calf raises while I brush my teeth or wash dishes.

I take my puppy outside and run around with him, do a few yoga poses, mainly chair and warrior poses.

Once back inside I drink my green drink or make breakfast


I am currently working on lunch and afternoons.

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Exercise :Nike Training Club

This is the Nike Training Club app.  I've used it before and I never 'lasted' long enough to earn any rewards.  This reward is actually a combination of two separate workouts, smh. Some of the workout provide full body workouts,  I will find a way to incorporate into my regimen.  

I'm new to this app and can't provide a thorough review. I'll link some reviews below.  

www.renewedfitness.org/new-on-nike-training-club-serena-williams-core-power-workout/

carolynvigghfitness.wordpress.com/2013/07/02/review-tuesday-nike-training-club/

http://www.twentysixandthensome.com/2011/02/16/two-cents-nike-training-club/#.U2-D8oFdW3I

Mini Farmer's Market Haul

Mini Farmer's Market Haul

Juice Edition

Hello!

Today I went to the Farmer's market to pick up some produce for juicing, salads, and mixed grills.  More about mixed grills at the end.  I typically avoid indoor farmer's market Friday-Sunday because its extremely congested.  I like to shop in an easy going, calm state of mind.  Plus I make many mistakes when in a rushed or chaotic state of mind.  

The main purpose for this trip was all about produce. Produce for juices, smoothies, salads, and some veggies to grill.

Golden Beets

They look much better after a wash and gentle scrub.  I like combining golden beets with carrots, apples, citrus, and ginger.

Produce for salads, juices and smoothies

It's going to be hard waiting on those bananas to ripen!

Also, Kale looks much better in person.  I chopped some of the strawberries and put them in the freezer.

I also got some red and yellow bell pepper, zucchini, red onion, cilantro, lemons, and garlic.  This is how my fridge starts out.  In two days the produce will be everywhere.  I reserve the bottom drawers for tough produce such as lemons, grapefruits, cauliflower, ginger, etc.  The middle draw above the celery is usually for cukes, zucchini and snow peas, etc.  The middle is a mix of greens, bell peppers, etc.  Top shelf is where I keep our prepped meals, snacks, eggs, etc.  

Mixed Grill

Yummy!

I don't like turning on my gas stove everyday, and I can't stand the pressure of coming up with a fantastic meal everyday.  My solution is to cook in bulk.  This is my latest endeavor!  I use a stove top grill. Asparagus, mushrooms, onion, red bell pepper, celery (yes celery!), and zucchini.  I also made some wild/brown rice mix, and grilled chicken. 

Thanks for checking me out! Do you have a favorite go to meal or method?  

My First Smoothie

After much procrastination, I made my first smoothie. I made a small smoothie to drink after my cardio workout. It was delicious! So yummy, I had to make another one because I kept 'tasting' it until it was gone! The ingredients: banana, strawberry, mango, spinach, date, maca powder, plant based protein powder, green juice, and water. I used one date without the seed, a splash of green juice, one teaspoon of maca powder and protein powder. First I added the date, spinach, water and both powders, pulsed a few times. Then I added the rest, pulsed a few more times. Then I blended it gradually increasing the speed. I do not own a fancy high speed blender, so I take my time. It yielded about 22 ounces.

Focus on health, not on weight. But first let me lose 10 pounds

Focus on health, not on weight- unknown

Great advice, I couldn't agree more, but first let me lose 10 pounds!  There are two problems with that mantra, 1. It is a long term goal and 2.  How do you know where to start? In this post I will share my personal struggle with number two.  I’d like to state I am not a health professional, if you have a serious medical issue, speak with your healthcare provider.

Focus on health, not on weight

But what if you can’t see your knees for your stomach?

Okay, you've decided to get healthy; you've scoured the internet for information, now what?  How do you decide what is right for you based on your goals?  Goals? Huh? Yes, goals!  If you’re like me, you’re all over the place willing to try many different things to lose weight.  I started with calorie restrictive diets, clean eating, smaller portions, skipping meals, grapefruit diets, the lemonade diet, ugh! FAIL FAIL FAIL.

I moved on from a diet plan to exercise.  It had been at least a year from the last time I’d done any exercise so I started with walking.  Fairly easy, until I encountered my first hill, literally!  I struggled on even the smallest incline.  It was embarrassing, yet eye-opening.  After a few days of walking I added jump rope intervals.  Then I added jumping jacks.  A few weeks later, I joined my community recreation center for some cardio.  I signed up for spinning/cycle class.  And I nearly passed out on my bike.  I was not ready, mentally or physically.  I went back to a second class just to confirm though.  I just couldn't do it.  Though I was done with the class, the soreness lasted a few more days.

I licked my wounds, I returned to my previous regimen of walking, jump ropes, jumping jacks.  I didn't know it at the time, but I’d set a goal.  You’ll benefit a great deal by setting goals.  A small goal of doing some physical exercise was more effective than quitting spinning after two tries.

I learned to humble myself and start my journey at chapter one.  What lessons have you learned on your fitness or healthy lifestyle journey? Maybe you can inspire someone who is at a crossroads!

Hello, an introduction

Hello,

A little about me, as less cliche as possible.  I'm currently on a journey to a healthier lifestyle.  My goal is to define what that means to me.  I'm 32 years old, overweight, out of shape and fed up.  To make a long story long...I began gaining weight around 24-25 years old, shortly after getting on a birth control injection, nicknamed Depo.  At my first shot I weighed 117 lbs at my last shot I weighed 178 lbs.  Yikes!  I've jumped on the fitness bandwagon and have fell off numerous times.  I've made many mistakes and have had several reoccurring pains and injuries.  I've  started over countless times and have given up even more.  Although there is plenty of information online, I realized the 'kick in the front door all or nothing' approach was hindering any progress I achieved.  So I decided to do things my way.  I'm learning there are many paths to any desired destination, I don't need to go in the front door, the side door, or even a window will do.

I love to juice, shop at farmer's markets, bargain shop, try new things, set small goals, etc etc, blah blah. I'd love to share those experiences with you.  Join me as I discover if vegans eat cheese?