Burning Up

Last week I was enjoying the treadmill so much, I went for an extra day just because.  What’s up with THAT?!  I’ll take it.

I’m sure it had something to do with wanting to play with my new toy.  I finally bit the [midnight internet shopping] bullet and bought myself a Polar Heart Rate Monitor.  Call it a belated Christmas prezzie to myself!

How could I resist a pink cutie like this?  I mean, come on! 

It’s so nice to finally have an accurate calorie count for my workouts…makes it so much easier to log and meal plan.  I also really enjoy watching my heart rate and planning my cardio days for low vs high intensity.  Totally worthwhile gadget!

So here we are a full month into my new gym membership and workout routine.  Yesterday was the very first day where a planned workout was foiled and I actually got grumpy about it.  My gym time is precious and I don’t like it being taken away!  I did everything in my power to get my make-up session today.  500 calories, take that!

Oddly, I think I look thinner on Day One.  I blame my stance. :)

Happy thoughts for this week:

• There’s always another time for a missed workout.
• I lost another pound.
• Hummus was on sale.
• I burn more calories than the gym equipment told me.
• Our vacation is just 16 days away.

Hitting My Stride

Here we are--now more than a full week into the New Year and it appears the resolution motivation has taken over the world!  Or, at least the world inside this little bubble of my life.  :)  Totally loving all of the excitement, challenges, happy faces, sweaty faces, healthy eats and workout plans that have taken over Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

I purposely haven’t set any written goals.  My return to the gym was a gift to myself--not a resolution.  No unnecessary pressure for this gal.  I have motivation and enjoyment in my corner, and that is everything I need right now.  All I need is to push myself just a wee bit harder every time I step in the gym door, and as long as I see even the teensiest of results each time I will be a happy camper.  Fitting the gym into my hectic schedule has been tough but it’s doable and making it happen is a priority to me.  And when I meet my priorities it’s easier to keep on going.

The one goal I did set is a weight loss goal for January because we are going on vacation in February and I will be a whole lot more comfortable in last Summer’s shorts if I lose a few pounds.  I’ll even treat myself to a new bathing suit if I can reach my goal.  You know, because bathing suit shopping is soooo much fun. *grumble  Bahaha!

Happy thoughts for this week:

• I’ve already lost more than a pound.
• I upped my weights for bicep curls and tricep kickbacks.
• I went from jogging 1 minute at a time, to 3 minutes at a time.
• My bum looks great doing deadlifts.
• We discovered a deeelish low-cal curry shrimp recipe. 

What keeps you motivated?  Did you set New Year’s resolutions?

How’s it going?

Well it looks like I’m a day late to the game.  Everyone else seems to have gotten their “oh my God it’s already February” posts up yesterday…but I had too much other good stuff to report!  I am here now though.

Yes, it’s February.  So I guess that means we talk about January.  How did we all make out with the first month of goals/resolutions/etc?  Everyone still on board?  Hope so!!

I didn’t tell you all, but I gave myself a little challenge…a sticker challenge!  Funny how exciting giving myself a sticker for each completed workout can be, but it is!  If it can work for Shirls it can work for the rest of us, right?  :)

So ya…look at that bad boy!!  Not only did I make it to EVERY SINGLE ONE of my planned workouts, but that last week I rocked a couple of EXTRAS.  *dances around*  Go me!!

I’m telling ya people, make a plan.  It’s really the answer!!

My plan (Wed, Fri & Sun are new additions):

Monday	Cardio + abs
Tuesday	Day 2 – Intro to Iron
Wednesday	Booty Camp Fitness DVD
Thursday	Day 3 – Intro to Iron
Friday	rest or DVD
Saturday	Day 1 – Intro to Iron + Cardio
Sunday	rest or warm yoga

Enough to burn a ton of calories, tone and get strong, build my cardio strength and rest when I need it…all without getting bored!

(It does help that I get up at least 3 days a week to drive FH to work…so I have that extra push to get to the gym.)

I’ve been at this for a few years now, and this is the first time I really feel like I have a good handle on the fitness part of my journey.  It’s incredibly motivating and invigorating!!! 

So let’s keep that ball rolling for February, shall we?!

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So obviously I was up and at ‘em this morning to do Day 2 – Week Three of Intro to Iron.  Quick 10 minute run to warm up.  Finished with a couple of added planks, and 10 minutes on the Stairmaster.  I hate that thing…so boring after more than 5 minutes!  But my butt likes it so I guess it’s a compromise I’m willing to make.  LOL.

Freaking chilly outside this morning (-24 with the windchill) so i was happy to come straight home to the coffee pot.

And oats!  I had planned something different but I really wanted oats, so oats I had!  :)

In fact, it’s OIAJ!!

In the pot:  unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze, water, whole oats, 1/2 banana, 2 tsp flax meal…with graham cracker crumbs and mini chocolate chips stirred in at the end.

In an empty PB jar, with the last spoonful of PB on top!  Nom!!

Busy day today.  I Christen this to be “multitask like a badass” day.

…and GO!!

2010: Year of the Fit (+ Amazing Giveaway!)

I can not remember a time when I have ever actually made New Years Resolutions.  It has never been something I was interested in as generally I figure resolutions can be made any time of year.  No need for a special date to decide to do something good for yourself, right?  But this year I do have something of a personal goal…

You all already know that I try to eat healthy each and every day, and I strive to earn my indulgences. I have on days and off days just like everyone else, but at the end of the week it’s rare that I feel guilty or bad about anything I’ve eaten.

Fitness on the other hand, I have trouble with.  Not that I don’t get to the gym pretty regularly and all that, but I never seem to progress.  I plateau quite easily and I chalk that up to just not pushing myself beyond my self-perceived limits.  Like I said to Angie not too long ago, I might be thin but I’m not terribly fit.

Soooo…with that said… My resolution for 2010 is to take my fitness more seriously and really work to be a stronger, fitter, healthier me!

In no particular order, plans to get it done:

• find a strength training workout appropriate to my body and my goals
• change it up every 6-8 weeks so as to not bore my body or my mind
• plan out a reasonable running plan, leading to running 5km without stopping
• find a yoga class that not only fits my schedule but helps to stretch, tone, and relax me
• keep it simple

In addition, I am always working towards finding balance in my diet.  I personally don’t believe in giving up anything unless it is truly unhealthy and detrimental to your own personal health or well-being.  However…I can always be doing a better job of achieving that balance. 

And I want to help you all too!  I’ve been working hard on finding some fun, healthy products to share as giveaways…and *drum roll please* today marks the first one!

The lovely folks over at Amazing Grass have offered up a prize pack for one lucky reader.  You will receive the same awesome sample pack I received a few months ago!!  One of you gets to try Amazing Meal, SuperFood, Wheat Grass, and the Energy Bars…and of course, you will receive the much-coveted shaker cup!

 

In order to enter to win this great prize you can:

• Leave a comment on THIS post telling me what your New Years Resolution or goal for 2010 is. 
• Tweet this: “I wanna win @balanceblog’s Amazing giveaway: http://bit.ly/4E9Yii”
• Post a link to this contest on your blog and email me at embracingbalance@gmail.com to let me know.  (Make sure you include a link to your post.)
• Do all three things for multiple chances to win!

Contest is open to Canadian and US residents.  I will use a random number generator to chose a winner on Friday, Jan 22nd at 12pm Atlantic Standard Time.

Good luck everyone!  Tell all your friends!  (I’m jealous as my AG supply is completely depleted…I’ll be refilling this week!)

Happy 2010!

Health-o-lutions

Yessir, it's definitely that time again. That time when we all stand back and take a good hard look at the things we want and need. The things that we have maybe let slip by or maybe didn't even try for or that maybe just need an extra bit of attention.

In my case I'm looking at the same thing as last year. Activity.

In the last year my commitment to activity came and went. I've broken it down into three categories and set a goal for each one: gym, at-home, other

Gym:
This last year I joined the gym, learned from my trainer, put my knowledge to use, and felt pretty good about it. I did get bored and lose interest near the end of the year though, which led to using every excuse I could get my hands on not to go. I have created five goals specific to the gym:

1 - Create and stick to a doable gym schedule (even if this means the schedule changes each month in order to fit our lives).
2 - Try to mix things up a little by trying out the free classes at the gym. Minimum once per month...with a goal of once per week when time allows.
3 - Work harder on building up cardio and really pushing myself to do my best.
4 - Use the stack of Self & Shape magazines I have to create new strength training routines (create a new body goal for each month to keep it interesting).
5 - No excuses. Fit it in.

At-home:
My at-home activity waned after our beloved Mojo passed on this Summer. Without the dog to walk I admittedly found a lot of comfort just sitting on my butt instead of taking my daily stroll around the neighborhood. To aid in avoiding this in the future I now have the Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred DVD which I intend to use for off-gym days and any days that the weather is too unfriendly for a decent walk. If this turns out to be enjoyable I might look for another at-home activity to help keep things from getting monotonous. The goal here is 30 minutes of activity per day any which way I like.

Other:
The brightest spot in all of this is that after almost a year here in Halifax I have finally found some friends to do activities with...my lovely blog girls! Together we have already tried a warm yoga class and we are now looking forward to trying true hot yoga and hopefully some more yoga and/or pilates classes. I hope that we make this a weekly thing to help round out my activity schedule. Plans with friends are a major aid in accountability for me...no one wants to be the one to let the group down!

So there you have it. Health-o-lutions 2009!