Summer-The time of beaches and swimming!

I have a new found love for swimming, not really laps per se-but fun swimming with friends and family! I consider it a mini workout! Close enough for me! Anyway, I was just reading the new issue of SHAPE and there was a pole of summer swim wear almost half the people said bikini while 1% more people (13%) said they never get in a swimsuit while 12% said they wear a one piece!

Now, maybe its the peace and love I've found during my happyweight journey, or just being tired of wearing a one piece and hating it-I now wear a bikini when ever possible!!!! Yes my abs are flatter and I'm skinnier and ya ya. But just last week I watched Sam Brown on the Travel Channel, she was in Brazil! Hello their biggest exports are gorgeous models and actors/actresses but still, EVERYONE (except Grandmas, said the tour guide lady) wears a bikini! And that even elevated my 2-piece liberation. Hell yes I wear a bikini and I think everyone should! At least a tankini that shows a sliver of skin. Seriously hiding under a one piece (okay they do have the ones with cutouts that can be very sexy so those don't count as one-pieces really) is HIDING your body, the one you work hard for, you work out and work at eating healthy-show it off and LOVE IT! No matter what it looks like!

Thats my 2 cents for summer fashion! lol

Do what you love, love what you do- The Life Is Good company slogan! I say AMEN!

I might sound crazy, but keep reading!

The reason for sounding crazy, or crazier than usual, would be because I've recently picked up a copy of "The Secret" and watched the movie online. There is a chapter about loosing weight. You really SHOULD read it, trust me it all sounds crazy and new-aged at 1st but give it a chance and you'll be floored! I promise!

I know this 1st hand, because last night before I went to bed I decided I was going to weigh my self this morning, before I ate like normal. Only I decided I was going to weigh 156! That's right I decided 10 hours before I actually weighed myself what I was going to weigh!!! I pictured myself at my happy weight, I pictured a bunch of different scales with 156 on it and I felt success and happiness for the weight lost and fitness gained! TA-DA! I actually worked! And trust me I haven't been at my healthiest lately. Yesterday I ate a bunch of onion rings and chocolate!

But I do have a theory as to this whole thing. I think picturing yourself at your happy weight, feeling strong, powerful, sexy and successful, and believing in yourself, makes healthy habits more automatic. The key is to believe your already there, fit and healthy. The book actually says don't weight yourself, believe you have already lost the weight and always, always think positively! Well I can't not weigh myself, for one I wanted the proof it works, and for two I think it still plays a role in being healthy, even though I love feeling awesome more! Even though I've been eating not so great stuff, I have gone for runs, even if I didn't get to them in the morning! Like today, I didn't go for a run till 1 or 2 in the afternoon, I planned on going as early as possible! Ha! But hey it still happened! That's the important thing, it makes you think like a fit health and strong person, you don't feel "fat and ugly". So you don't feel the need to drown your sorrows in ice cream and crap!

I sound crazy more often than not, but trust me on this! Give it a try for a few weeks, read the book and/or watch the movie. You can even youtube it! If you try it send me some updates!

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." -Martin Luther King, Jr.


Love,
Ash!

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!

Even with all the craziness....

I'm thinking things with calm down after this week, or maybe next week! I've got a plan for this summer-including walking almost everywhere (healthy and ecofriendly!), eating really fresh foods, and cooking more, a goal is to have very active weekends so I don't have to do a straight up workout. I can burn calories w/o feeling the workout drag, definitly not cool on weekends right?! Also drink tons of water!!!! Thats been a huge help this week, I think its really worked good for my body. I haven't weight myself but I feel great and I noticed my energy sinks when I haven't had a lot of water that day! Also I'm going to do the Self Jump Start diet! The one with the calender and something new to try every day. I did it last winter and lost a few pounds so it definitly works. I may do the old one that I tried last year, and the 2.0 version from this year! One after the other I could loose around 16 pounds over the summer, I'm ALL FOR THAT!

In a nut shell, this summer I want to be a little greener and way more active! My hopes are that adding in activity when ever I can will help keep me healthy and help me find (and then stay at) my happy weight. And trying the day-by-day tips of the Jump Start diet(s) will help me get even healthier diet wise, also I'm going to make up more recipies!!!! Like the southwestern bean, corn, and chicken soup I threw together the other day! :D

The greatest wealth is health. ~Virgil

Good Luck guys!

My summer goals!

Things have been so crazy with school work piling up, track heated up quite a bit, and crazy family and friend time!!!! But this summer I have a built in healthy step to take (literally) I'm planning on walking to work, to friend houses, to stores, and anywhere else I can walk within reason! Now I haven't really tested this, so I may not walk everyday! I'm planning on it for 2 reasons though! 1. Hello-mini workout! A mile here and there will seriously add up! Because I will find summery ways to stay in fab shape! I'm excited to start kickboxing on a regular bases after tracks over!!! YAY! and 2. I'm definitely not a tree hugger, but I am concerned about the environment, and walking/biking (maybe) to places I'd normally drive will be my 2 cents for the environment! That and recycling as much as possible, which I do already!

I am really excited for summer! I'm going to try to swim for some of my workouts, and hike! I love to hike so working that in my summer shape up will be a treat! Maybe even some beach volleyball or Frisbee! Who knows! Its summer! But the most important thing for me is to finally find my happy weight and have a VERY funny summer! I am really really looking forward to fun in the sun, while getting in even better shape for sports next year! :D Wow! I was having a stressful night, but thinking of summer made me smile too much!

How many charming talents have been spoiled by the instilled desire to do 'important' work! Some people are born to lift heavy weights. Some are born to juggle with golden balls. -Max Beerbohm (I enjoy this, it touches on a lot that's been going on lately!)

Live, Laugh, Love! Summers coming!

Its working!

I am so sorry for being gone so long! I was literally gone for a few days, and other than that I've been so busy its not even funny! So I have a quick update with more to follow I promise!

Well, I've been trying the no diet thing, eating mindfully and as healthy as possible and its definitely working! I've lost a few pounds, but I really haven't weighed myself, not until today anyway. I'm still thinking about using my food journal again. I have no idea why but I can never keep those going! Usually two weeks and I stop. Someway though! I am SO tired and stressed I really have to get to bed! More later!

It is wise to direct your anger towards problems -- not people; to focus your energies on answers -- not excuses. -William Arthur Ward

My Health Epiphany!

I believe this has been a long time coming, at least for the last few months! But this weekend (after reading this months SELF!) it all finally clicked; the whole happy weight thing. Lately I've been worried that when I have kids, I'll try to count their calories & start a bad cycle with them! That actually freaked me out quite a bit! I can't really think of a way to describe my realization! I'll try to make a list of my new healthy strategies! Maybe that'll help....

• I've said this before, but try to leave a few bites on your plate! Even if the food isn't very healthy, every little bit counts!
• MOVE! Working out is important, but I've learned from experience that working out too much can make you eat more. Totally counter intuitive! Cutting back on the feel the burn, make you sweat kinda workouts can help, its important to work movement into your life. Walk to work, to the store, start taking nightly walks or bike rides with friends and family! ALWAYS take the stairs. You get the idea.
• Work fruits and veggies in as much as possible, ideally at every meal.
• When eating out try to take off part of the bun to your sandwhich/burger, or pick mayo OR cheese, go diet or better yet good old h20! Try making easy changes to your favorite fast food orders, eat slowly & enjoy!
• I've also talked about eating slowly, I found it really hard to do until I read an article in the new SELF about mindfulness! That did the trick for me so check it out!

That's what I'm working with now, hopefully combining all that will help me find my happy weight! No more counting calories or anything crazy diet wise. Actually I'm banning the word diet! The word itself makes me cringe now. If you have any tips & tricks PLEASE let me know! I really want to hear from readers!!!!

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us." -Helen Keller

Good luck guys,

Ash