My Summer Challenge & Goals!

Its JUNE! Which means summer is right around the corner! Actually its pretty much here, but technically around the corner. Anyway-I forgot about the Jump Start Diet thing until yesterday so I'm 2 days behind, I've been so busy and it just doesn't feel like its June already! But I really love the old Jump Start, its so simple but it really works, last time I can't remember if I made it to the end, all I know is it worked but I fell into my old habits, actually worse habits! :S Speaking of good habits, I'll list some of my new ones that I'm celebrating today!

• Drinking TONS of water! (Makes me feel SO good!)
• Eating slowly and consciously, it really really works! I've found a way to enjoy one square of dark chocolate for a good 4-5 mins, its like meditating! Only better! Try it, trust me!
• I'm back to working out in the mornings! Lights my spark for the day.
• I'm currently doing a food log, but I don't write it down ASAP I'll do it at night so it's a little less stressful, I'll usually watch a comedy or listen to music while I'm writing it down too.
• Doing hard core (literally!) and arms and going a little lighter on my bottom half since I'm a pear shape! Thank you Fitness mag for that! Actually I just started this one today, but its a good idea I'm going to stick with for the month, or maybe summer!

I'm also reading the book Why French Women Don't Get Fat its really great, sound advice for the most part. Similar to the Paul McKinna stuff with recipes and french humor and stories. Its inspiring as well, the author has a good story behind her weight struggles. (at least I think its cool!) But the book is helping me remember the mindful eating stuff, only it doesn't talk about workouts, only walking a lot. This summer I do plan on walking to as many of my destinations as possible, but lately its been raining hard, with some thunder storms thrown in. Not great walking conditions!

I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances. -Martha Washington

Good Luck & Happy Summer!

This weeks goals!

As I was thinking about my goal for this week I was eating m&ms, (after I'd already had 2 small pieces of cake!) So the 1st thing that came to mind was to swear off chocolate for the week, but I know that would make me misserable! Especially with the PMS! (I seem to PMS for 2 weeks now? I'm not happy with that!) Anyway, I decided to make my goal this week writting down everything I eat! Food logs/journals are very very helpful, and studies show using one can help you drop tons more weight!!!! I've used it before and it was helpful, only after a week or 2 I get really frustrated, bored and lazy and I stop using it. So this week I'm going to stick it out! Hopefully making it a habit and possibly finding a way to use a food journal that will stick! Hey if it works for Carrie Underwood it'll work for me!!

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." -Aristotle


Ashlee

Healthy Steps for this week

I really liked the no red meat thing, well okay not LIKED but I think it made some difference in my energy levels. Granted last week was so crazy I didn't notice much, but I'm not sure I can swear off red meat for good. I'm thinking I'll try to have less than 2 servings a week!?! I had a burger yesterday @ a diner, and today I had a Whopper Jr! So I can have it once more this week. I can do that!

This week my goal/action step is to eat slower, and leave some food on my plate! And to stop when I'm almost full, especially since tonight I over ate. I didn't notice till about 30 mins after I was done, but I'm totally feeling like crap now! So eating slower should help, and leaving at least a few bites left on my plate will cut out some calories that will hopefully add up over the week!

"Happiness is not a destination. It is a method of life." -Burton Hills

Ash!

This weeks goals!

I hate feeling like my body is a work in progress! Its very depressing! So this week I'm setting a goal to abstain from red meat! I've always wanted to have a vegetarian day like once a week or so...but I've never actually accomplished that, I think I probably forgot around lunch time! And I do know that it takes 3-4 weeks to form a habit, but I'm not really looking to give it up completely, I'm just doing a trial! I've read that a red meatless diet can give you more energy! And hopefully it can help me with the weight loss thing!?! One small problem though, I had some major issues last week with my anemia! So this may make it even worse, but I'm going to be diligent with my multi, and check the labels on my food to make sure they have iron! I'll give you an update!

Stats:
weight-about 159! :S

"Every time you wake up and ask yourself, "What good things am I going to do today?", remember that when the sun goes down at sunset, it will take a part of your life with it." -Indian Proverb

Ash

Goal Setting!

A few weeks ago I was reading Fitness mag....and they had a bunch of tips from the top personal trainers. I don't remember who said it but they said reach for the stars, pick a goal that is a stretch, like exercising 5 times this week for at least 45mins! If you don't reach that and you only workout 3-4 times, at least you did that much.

Well, I think it depends on your personality! Being the half full or half emty kinda person has a lot to do with it, but I find that for myself it's both!?!? If that makes sense, like stretching TOO far makes me frustrated and I get WAY off track, usually by cheating or slacking more than once! lol But aiming too low is selling yourself short. So for me I have to find a middle ground, but one thing I have some trouble with (other than having WAY too many treats a day :S ), is giving myself something to work towards, like a reward. I can say I'll do something like a facial, or watch my fav movie for the millionth time, or even once I reach my goal weight go shopping, as much as possible!, and get my ears pierced again, or getting a massage! Well, I'm not sure why, but I just can't make those seem to stick, I definatley don't take it seriously; not sure why!?!?! I think I'm going to try to think smaller, like if I workout twice today, (am for about 20mins and after school for about 20-45ish...lol) than I can watch a movie after I'm done with homework! Or something small like that, maybe I won't loose sight of my goal so fast! I'll give it a try and write updates!

Got any goal setting (and keeping!) advice!?!? Let me know by leaving a comment!

Fourtune cookie quote: "Look around; happiness is trying to catch you!"

Happy Health!
Ash!

Weeks Goals

On sunday I came up with my 2 goals for the week! Goal 1= At least 200+ mins of cardio and 100+ mins of strength, weights, pilates, yoga, etc! I think I'm already at 130mins total! Pretty good! (100 of that is cardio! Half way there and its TUES! YAY!) And Goal 2 has a story! I was in my local grocery store looking at its VERY small meal replacement and protein bar section, when I looked up at a shelf I've seen one hundred times before!?!? And noticed low fat chocolate soy milk in a box thingy! So I decided to try it!!!!! I LOVED regular chocolate soy milk, but gave it up shortly after giving up coffee this fall. Mostly because I put it in my coffee, and it was high in cals & sugar. Now I'm back to coffee and soy milk! Only I don't have 1+ cups EVERY morning, more like a few times a week, and I only put about 1/2 teaspoon of sugar in it, almost BLACK! :) And My GOAL this week was to trade my treats for a cup of soy milk. Since it's only 70 cals and has protein in it, I figured it would be more filling than a square (or 4) of dark chocolate, maybe, at least it would be chocolate with less cals, and still kinda healthy. Well....I forgot about it till last night, and I also temp. forgot this afternoon after my pre-workout fruit parfait thing! oops!

Updates on workouts!
Sunday: about 20 mins of kickboxing (a dvd)
Monday: Am before school-20 mins of elliptical
After School- nice out so I went for a run about 30mins
Today: Am-Pilates about 25-30mins
After School-started out with a kickboxing dvd (recorded from tv! lol) but realized I'd done it too many times, and it was too easy! So stopped and did my own workout :S so about 30 mins of kickboxing and some ab work on my stability ball.
I now need to get a new kickboxing dvd (any suggestions?) And get some sleep! I think I might be fighting off a cold, I'm pooped and I only stayed up till 10 last night, which is earlier than last week, and usually normal for me! I just realized monday night that 9 should be my new "bed time"! I feel tons better in the morning!

Good Luck,
Ash!