Two New Cookbooks to Try

In my preparations for the upcoming year I have ordered a few cookbooks. My mom has had these for years and has used them in the past. I was plesantly surprised to still find them available on the internet. I plan on  trying lots of recipies from these books during the upcoming year. I must admit they look a little on the funky side, but since I love to cook and try new things I am looking forward to the challenge.  If you are interested here is where you can find them Sweet and Sugar Free: An All Natural Fruit-Sweetened Dessert Cookbook,  A Good Cook . . . Ten Talents: Natural Foods, Vegetarian -Combining Cookbook and Health Manual, and Eat and Be Lean.

I made it through the Holiday's!

Well as of tomorrow I can officially say that I made it through the Holiday's with very minimal sugar and white flour! It has gotten easier for me as the month has gone on. In fact, for the past 7 days we have been visiting family and I have been virtually surrounded by TREATS! I have been surprised that I haven't been tempted, or felt deprived, or left out. I don't know what has made the difference this time around, except for the fact that I am very excited and determined to succeed. I also feel so good. I haven't felt sick or like I have eaten too much or had that sugar 'coma' feeling. It's been nice and I am looking forward to the new me. I don't doubt that it will be hard,  and I am sure I will be faced with all sorts of temptations. I worry that I will offend friends and family when I don't except their offers for food. But I really feel that this is the answer for me to succeed. I need to let my body heal itself by giving it real, whole, natural, healthy and un-refined foods.  I have appreciated all of the support that my family and extended family have shown me so far, Thanks!

If the shoe fits.....

I just got fitted from a running pro at a running store for running shoes. I wonder how many more times I can say running! Anyway I haven't ever done this before, in the past I have just bought the shoe that felt the best and was on the sale table. I decided it was time to buy me some quality running shoes that fit my feet and running style. I found out that I need a  moderate to high support shoe. The store employee has me try on several models and run in them at the store while she watched me. It didn't take long to find out what felt the best, Brooks Women's Adrenaline GTS Running Shoe,  they felt so good I wanted to run right out of the store! So if you haven't ever had a proper running shoe fitting, go out and do it. You will be glad you did!

The Super Conservitive Walking to Run Plan

Okay I have been researching these training plans that help people get from walking to running and I have chosen one for me. It is super conservative so I will need to add to my daily work-outs with the elliptical, however this plan sounds the best for my knees. My knees have been giving me trouble since my knee surgery like a billion years ago. I notice that when I lose any weight it gets better, so I am going to take it slow with the running. Did you know that every extra pound on your body is like an extra 10 pounds on your knees?? No wonder my knees complain! My plan it is from  http://www.beginnertriathlete.com
I am doing the Couch to Run Conservative Plan that takes 28 weeks. There are lots of other plans there for running/ biking/swimming or all three and you can search on what you are looking for, check it out if you want to join me!

I am going to tweak the original program a bit since my fitness level is higher than this one starts at and since I am also training for the bike race in June I can split my work-outs between biking (spinning)  and the walk/run.

Here's a look at my January

• Week One: Mon/Tues/Thurs: Spin Class   Wed/Fri/ Sat: Walk 30 minutes/Elliptical 20 min
• Week Two: Mon/Tues/Thurs: Spin Class   Wed/Fri/ Sat: Walk 30 minutes/Elliptical 20 min
• Week Three:  Mon/Tues/Thurs: Spin Class Wed/ Fri/ Sat: Walk 28 min/ Run 2 min / Elliptical 20 min
• Week Four:  Mon/Tues/Thurs: Spin Class   Wed/ Fri/ Sat: Walk 28 min/ Run 4 min / Elliptical 20 min

Frustrated with Food Marketing... Warning read your labels!

I just have to post my frustrations with the food industry and their sneaky marketing. I am visiting my in-laws and trying very hard to stick to my eating plan. Fortunately I have extremely supportive family members, thank you all! Anyway we were having salad with our dinner and I was looking at labels on salad dressing.  What do you think I found in every one...SUGAR!! But the one that made me the most upset was the new "Salad Spritzer's" The front label makes it sound like this is such a great lite product, Well guess what the first 2 ingredients are.... Water and High Fructose Corn Syrup.  There is a lot of hype right now about High Fructose Corn Syrup but if you really want to know what it does to your body and brain read Jillian Michael's' new book "Master Your Metabolism" after reading up on this stuff I have vowed to not consume it myself and to stop buying any products with this ingredient in it for my family... Okay I can step down from my soapbox, I feel better now.

Phase One of My Exercise Plan Revealed

Cardio for at least 40 minutes 5-6 times per week.
Burning at least 500 calories a session and keeping my heart rate up around 80%

For January I am going to just focus on cardio. Anything else will be considered a bonus! I plan to go to a spinning class 3 times a week, and the other 3 workouts on the elliptical or treadmill. I plan to implement a training program to get me from just walking to a walk / run, until I can run without walking. I know I can do this, I did it before, it just takes time and consistency. This phase should be very do-able since I already do this at least 3-4 times per week now and I have the stamina to work at this level. I plan on heading to the gym right after my kids leave for school. This is where my trouble starts. I think to myself, "I'll leave for the gym right after I wash the dishes, or fold some laundry  or..... So I need to make sure I head to the gym daily, even if that means I have to leave other things undone.  We also have a brand new treadmill in the family room, so I don't  have any more excuses to skip a workout session. Oh and we also have a border collie that needs a lot of exercise!

Phase One of My Eating Plan Revealed

Okay something you should know about me, if you don't already is.. I like to do things BIG! I tend to bite off more than I can chew in lots of ways.  I know that this is most likely the biggest reason that I have not been able to stick to my plans in the past. I try to do too much, too soon. Then I find out I can't do everything perfectly and I give up. So I am going to try to put my plan into phases and add to them each month. So here is my plan for January:

Continue with trying hard not to eat any white flour or refined sugar products. I know you are already thinking this woman is already setting her self up for failure. But let me explain.... my oldest son, who is really an inspiration to me, challenged me to start eating this way for the month of December. I know, nice month to start that! Well so far so good-  okay well I have had a few small bumps- but for the most part I have done it and I feel so great! It hasn't been as hard as you might think. It has taken some planning and thought but because my son and I have done it together. Now if only I could run 10 miles like he does... anyway all I am saying is that I want to continue what I have already been doing for a month now.

Let myself have one 'treat' a week: Either a piece of dark chocolate or a serving of a new recipe for something made without refined sugar. I will be sure to post the ones we like! I have already had some success with this. This will satisfy my sweet tooth cravings, but also help me to limit them!

Start tracking my food daily using Vitabot: Vitabot is an online nutrition program that comes with my gym membership. It helps you track all sorts of things. Calories, fat, protein, vitamins, etc.. It is set up like a report card and you are trying to get all A's for the day. I have used it in the past and it helps me to stay focused, know what I can eat, and make sure my meals are balanced and nutritious.

So that is my eating plan...now on to exercise!

Making myself a priority in my life

I have been thinking a lot about this new approach of mine to getting fit. I added a countdown clock so every time I blog I can keep my focus on my goal. I need to be honest with myself and anyone else reading this. I have got ALOT of work to do in order to reach my goal. However, I know I can do it. I can do hard things, I can stay focused and put my health and fitness as a priority in my life. I have had a hard time in the past making that a priority because I have so many other priorities in my life. My family, church work, my home, serving others, etc... But I really think that it is time to put me and my goals in the forefront. I can do that and still take care of my family and friends. I just need to make sure that I also take care of me.

The start of a new me!

Well it seems that I have had the same New Year's resolution for probably the past 20 years! Okay at least the past 17... since I had my first baby! That has been to lose weight, or get healthy, work on my fitness, finish a triathlon, whatever! It is obviously the same goal... To accomplish this goal in the past I have made a million plans including making charts, calendars, plans to reward or pay myself for my success, etc... I have even made a lot of progress in the past, but it seems that something in my life always changes and I lose my focus and I never fully reach my goals. So what will make blogging about it different? Maybe nothing but here's my logic The one thing I haven't done is to consistently journal about my success including all the up's and down's and certainly not in such a public way. Will this change things? Maybe not, but my hope is that with a good solid, life style changing plan and the knowledge that my story could be read by the world give me a lot of motivation. Not only the motivation to be consistent, but also the motivation to get my thoughts, ideas, and feelings out on "paper" so here it goes!