High Five to Me - Healthy, Happy & FIT!

It gives me great pleasure to give myself a "High Five" for finally gaining control of maintaining a challenging, and constantly changing, fitness regimen. This is, after all, a big portion of what this blog is about.  As I had noted in my posts early on, staying committed to my workouts has always been a struggle for me.  While I was four years into the clean eating lifestyle, I could not seem to get a handle on getting fit...leaving me to be as I describe skinny fat. 

During this time running was in the mix, but as I learned over the years just running doesn't mold the body to perfection (defined by me of course).  Yes, I ran several half marathons but it's not like I was speed training, or breaking new records...and I was surely not consistent.  I'd go two weeks on, one month off; one week on, one week off; one month on, three months off...so as you can imagine - gains in my quest to be fit was nearly impossible. 

In my desperation to tone my body, I joined several group fitness classes, the gym, a yoga studio, etc.  While all taught me new things about myself - especially yoga - it just wasn't a sustainable lifestyle of me.  In other words, I failed - at every single one of them.  First I missed one class here and there, then a whole week, and then I was too embarrassed to even come back.  I know that I shouldn't have felt ashamed for letting my life take over and not sticking to the commitment as I had promised myself I would...but I did. It was easier to not face the crowd and be out the money - in each instance - so I was left to start over time and time again. 

In June of 2011, in other words just four short months ago, I made what I can easily call now the best decision ever as it relates to reaching my fitness goals. Via a Google search, I discovered Cari's OneonOne Fitness Training.  I immediately clicked "How to Get Started" and after reading through the content, I was sold.  In addition to her words, Cari's overall fitness appearance had me rest assured that she didn't just talk the talk.  I knew without even speaking to her that she was capable of molding me - that is of course if I was ready to commit to the challenge. 

Picture above - Fit Girl Cari Draft, Personal Fitness Trainer,
& Owner of EcoTrek Fitness (outdoor group workouts)

Pulled from Cari's website she so eloquently says it just right...

"As a personal trainer who designs custom-made workouts for clients, I always get fired up when the peeps seem motivated to get in shape... but three months later, several of them have just “run out of time”, “run out of money” or simply lost their desire to get fit and healthy for whatever reason.  There are several stages a person goes through when they come to me for help. Stage one would be thinking about making a change; then there’s deciding to change, making preparations to change, and finally, initiating actual changes! Sometimes when clients contact me too early in their process, they are doomed to fail.  The most successful fitness clients I have are the ones who have linked regular physical activity to the things that are important to them. Everyone needs to see, at some point, that regular exercise is essential and has to be a priority; once you find yourself in the stage where you are ready to initiate actual changes, THAT is the time to contact me!"
 

It was as if her words were meant for my eyes only.  I was ready. I quickly filled out the required questionnaire, submitted it via email, and Cari reached out to me within hours. We chatted shortly about my goals and set up our first meeting at local park.  During that first workout together, I was quickly aware just how out of shape I was. As I told Cari, looks are deceiving - I may be "small" but darn it all I huffed and puffed my way through it.  She was encouraging and made it known that resilience and discipline was going to be key in my success. 

One of the first things I told Cari was,
"I need you to help me get arms like yours!"

I have since met with Cari a total of four more times.  Each time, I get a brand new strength training workout that I commit to doing twice a week at home (I do them right in my backyard), along with running four times a week.  I've gone from the girl who hated ab work to loving it, to dreading pushups to thinking I'm pretty fantastic at them.  While we only meet once a month, Cari keeps a pulse on my progress. I love bragging to her - she was the first person I told when I bought my size 2 shorts, and the first person I told when I bought my first size 0 dress.  Each and every time with every mini goal under my belt I asked her, "Is this for real?"  My waist has went from a 30.75'' (across the belly) to 27.75''.  I haven't quite reached all of my fitness goals, but I LOVE that I am finally on the right track.  I'm closer now than ever before to being truly skinny and FIT.  Skipping workouts is not an option.  I'm as committed to them as I am to clean eating and that right there is worth a whole lot of high fives!  

This is the Before Clean Eating ME...

This is the After Embracing Clean Eating & 3 Months of
Personal Training with Cari Draft ME

Calls for a High Five or two, right?

Keep it Clean & Enjoy the Ride,
Mrs. Skinny Fat

When Your Body Says Rest - REST!

I have been feeling like crud all week. Extremely tired, lack of motivation, slightly depressed, zero appetite...just really annoyingly mopey!  For comparison purposes, I felt like the energizer bunny whose batteries just got ripped out of its back!  As I am sure you can relate, not feeling like yourself is awful - especially when you can't pinpoint what's wrong. As of yesterday, I was just blaming my hormones...mostly because my mind was so full of negativity - "I can't" - "I don't want to" - "Ugh...must I?"... so last night I had to literally force myself to lace up those shoes and hit the payment. I was on a mission to send my hormones packing!

The run was torture. My legs felt like they were filled with cement. I kept having to give myself pep talks because all I really wanted to do was lie down. Yep right then and there - just fall flat on my face and rest.  The only thing that was keeping me going was the fact that I realized my thoughts weren't exactly logical so putting one foot in front of the other was the quickest way to get home. 

God knew I needed help.  As I rounded the corner of mile 3, I met another runner.  Just what I needed to pick up the pace.  We ended up pacing side by side thus striking up a conversation - long story short - I do think (crossing my fingers) I found myself a future running partner. Long time in the making! Meeting a local runner was just what I needed to give me that boost to make it home.

I got home feeling surprisingly renewed. Sadly, this feeling lasted a whole 30 minutes.  The cruddy "down in the dumps" feeling crept right back in leaving me to think it was more than hormones...my body was fighting something.  I was scheduled to meet with my personal trainer the next morning at 6am so I shot her a text to let her know what was going on.  She didn't take much details to know just what to say.  She came back and said, "Just rest.  Listen to your body and rest."

So, I did just that. I went to bed early and woke up a few hours later to a freezing cold sweat.  Fever, check. Yep, my body was fighting alright. So, with my restless night behind me, I forced myself to ignore the massive to-do list to take the day to sleep. And, boy did I sleep.  Around 3pm I came to life and felt like me again.  So THANKFUL!  I even got in an amazing strength training session and knocked out my to-do list -  Double bonus!

Moral of this story - when your body says rest - you gotta listen.  I didn't want to either but it was just what my body needed to fight off whatever was trying to get the best of me.  Give your body the tools to fight - H2O and loads of REST!

Keep it Clean & Enjoy the Ride,
MSF

Secret to Success: No Excuses!

In 2007, when I first changed my eating habits, I decided to go "Cold Turkey", as they say, for 6 months and fully adopted the vegan lifestyle.  During that time, I was so cautious of everything I ate ... and  most difficult - surprisingly - was that I completely gave up alcohol (this was hard for me because I loved enjoying a glass of wine with dinner, weekends, with my husband, etc!).  At my smallest, I weighed in at 115.  It's so odd reflecting on how I felt then because I felt soooo "skinny-fat" - I didn't work out so while yes, skinny (barely nothing), I was such a weakling. And everything felt so flabby. 

I then discovered clean eating - and I was awe-struck by its principles.  I felt like I had been handed a gift - everything just made so much sense! Eating real foods...- you know the ones that come from the earth - all the time - novel idea!  Over time (three years) I slowly started to incorporate foods back into my diet such as seafood, venison, quality eggs, and organic cheese (in moderation).  During this time, my passion truly ignited for clean eating and I can't seem to learn enough on this topic. 

Even though, I was very intentional and disciplined with my eating - I still was Skinny-Fat true and true.  I wasn't dedicated to a workout regimen.  On that front, I could seem to come up with every excuse under the sun as to why I wasn't going to workout.  Even though - when I did, it felt so good!  I love running (when I actually did it) - so I would run sometimes - even did several 1/2 marathons (ill prepared I should add), and then I decided to join aerobics (it lasted a couple weeks), I tried bootcamp - hmm it was okay, and then there was yoga...loved yoga but still...it only lasted a month.  With each of these down periods, I would constantly beat myself up.  Complaining always (mostly inside my head) about the way my clothes fit, or dreading getting in the bikini, dress shopping, etc.  I was a size 4 - weighing anywhere from 125 - 130 over this time  - abiding by clean eating principles 80% of the time (although socially drinking in moderation).  I say 80% because I was/am still learning - and sometimes was (who am I kidding - still am) tricked by flashy marketing on packaging... (more to come on this at a later time).  I am slowly learning that just because it's sold in a Health Food Store, does not make it Clean!

Finally, in June of 2011, I got a personal trainer.  Someone I aspired to be - she wasn't skinny fat but TRULY SKINNY & FIT.  She put together a workout regimen for me which only called for a band and a mat.  But to meet my goals, it required "No Excuses"  - no matter what.  The schedule calls for 4 days of running (anywhere from 3 to 5 miles), 2 days of strength training, and a rest day.  I am able to complete everything right at home (outside), and only see her every 3 weeks for a new strength training program.  It's been the best thing I have ever done for myself.  I have not allowed myself to miss a workout - even when it's the LAST thing I want to do - I force myself to tie up those laces and get it over with. Time after time, what I find, is about 5 minutes (often times less) into the workout, my whole attitude shifts...and I start feel, pardon my choice of words, like a badass.  Truly!  I journal my workouts and all over my calendar you'll see the words, "No EXCUSES" - and when I first started, I had a sticky notes every where to remind me that no matter how much I wanted to - I'm wasn't getting out it!

Since I have incorporated workouts into my clean eating lifestyle, I finally feel like I am on the path to ridding the fat and finding the fit....for good! I have lost 3 inches from around my waist and have lost 3lbs!  It's amazing - I get to eat all day long (5 to 6 small meals a day), and I'm in charge of molding my body to "perfection" -  and this so called perfection is defined by me.  Yep, just me.

It's a journey - and what I have learned is to be truly skinny and fit (in other words, healthy, happy & fit)- doesn't happen overnight. Adding muscle is a beautiful thing...but it's a process.  Quick fixes will only get you to be skinny fat - a place I have been far too long.

 

If you haven't already, commit to a No Excuses attitude - whether it's about eating changes or working out.  And remember,  change will happen but it's baby steps my friends! 

Mrs. Skinny Fit running a 1/2 marathon in Miami March 2011.
It was torture because I was so ill prepared!
Can't wait to get a race on the calendar now
that I have been so committed to a workout regimen! 

 

Mr. Miles - my new running partner. 
He's up for the challenge - never lets me down!

 

Mrs. Skinny Fat & Mr. Miles - These past few months, I have had the confidence to try "new" workout activities. Kayaking is one my favorite things to do!