I have fallen in love… with soy milk.

I can’t help myself. I don’t know how it happened… it just happened. One day, I drove up to my favorite coffee joint, Just Cruisin’ Coffee, asked for a Hazelnut Latte and in my attempt to be healthy, I decided to try soy milk as I’ve heard it’s good for you and less fattening than regular milk. As I drove away with a smile on my face because the customer service there is so friendly, I daintily lifted the coffee cup to my lips, took a sip, and all of a sudden, everything stopped - time and space froze. I had just experienced one of the most satisfying and delicious tastes in my entire life and I wanted to cry. I knew right then that this was something special. This… this… soy milk was a thing to be treasured, cherished, savored, delighted in. It was creamy, it was flavorful, and my god, it was healthy. Not only was it beautiful on the outside, it was beautiful on the inside.

But it didn’t stop there. I had to try it again just to be sure that it wasn’t a fluke; to be certain that it wasn’t only a one-time thing; and that this new-found love would be consistent throughout my entire life. So, I kept going back in the days following to become better acquainted with my “crush” and I found that it was as good as I thought it would be. Every single time I took a sip, I would sigh and close my eyes as I experienced a rush of joy and delight. It made me happy, it made me healthy, and it made me confident. Then yesterday, as I walked out of Starbucks with my Hazelnut Soy Latte, I knew. I just knew.

I was in love.

So, I did wake up early this morning and put on the Kickin’ Core Turbo Jam video (45 minutes cardio), along with Booty Sculpt (30 minutes of free weights).  My feet hurt a lot this morning during the cardio exercise but I pushed through it and now am quite proud of myself.  After my workout, I washed up and set out to spend time with myself.  I meant to head to Hilo Bayfront and sit by the shoreline but I accidentally passed by the spot that I had designated as my “hangout.”  The only place to turn around was at the scenic point which is about 5 minutes out of town and as I headed there to do my turn-around, I realized that I just wanted to keep on driving and not stop, so I passed by the scenic point and drove on and on and on and on until I remembered that my car is really crappy and I didn’t know how far I could take it before it would break down on me, so 11 miles out of town I turned my car around and came back to Hilo.  After that, I went to Starbucks, turned on my iPod, and worked on my Turbo Kick Form & Technique class.

Long story short (is it too late for that?), I got back on track regarding exercise and began concentrating on my Turbo Kick routines.  I also went to the grocery store and picked up healthy food for me to eat… things are definitely looking up from last week. 

Wow, this week could not have been worse.  It’s right before my period and I gained, like, 10 pounds.  I know they will soon come off, but the fact that they showed up at all threw me off and made me depressed and unmotivated this whole week.  It also gave me the hugest cravings I have had in a while.  The other night, I downed a personal pan pizza, a cheeseburger, fries, and a bowl of ice cream with cookie crumbles… in about 30 minutes.  Can I hear an “oink, oink”?  These cravings consumed all my thoughts until I could eat what I wanted and it sucked that I succumbed to them.  However, yesterday my cravings went away and that has been a relief to me BUT since I was so terrible this week regarding my diet, that made me so depressed that I didn’t stop eating everything that came in sight.  It’s been such a battle!

Tonight, though, I became so disgusted with myself and my lack of willpower that I resolved to do the things that make me feel happy and balanced and to get back on track to my search of being nutritious, healthy, and fit.  So, tomorrow, I am waking up early to do Turbo Jam (cardio & weights), and then heading out to the park to get in some reading and writing.  After that, I plan on going to the grocery store to pick up some healthy snacks.  I’m getting back on track… yay!

I heave a happy sigh and say good night!

If you have read my very first post, then you will know that my current fitness status (crazy, exercise-obsessed girl) didn’t come easily and is still a work in progress.  It took me about a year to get to this place that I am at; and “this place” is my ability to exercise for a long time without getting tired, fitting into sizes 3-5 (compared to when I started which was nearing the sizes 7-9 arena), loving exercise, and eating healthy.  And this all came out because of my determination to succeed and my discipline to keep on keeping on - it wasn’t easy!

However, if you talk to people that know me, you would think that I got here by some magic formula.  Now that I am starting on a journey towards teaching my own exercise, I’m getting comments like, “You have to make me skinny like you” or “Teach me how to run” (seriously?!) or “Help me exercise.”  The last comment is fine to make but the implication is that it is up to ME to help YOU lose weight and be healthy.  Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to help someone become fit but I’m just not the type of person that will coddle and fuss over someone if they don’t want to do it.  I’m sorry, folks, but that is not how it goes.  It starts with you and it ends with you.  If you want to lose weight, fit into those size 5 jeans again, or just feel better about yourself physically, YOU have got to be the one to get your ass out there and do the work.  YOU have to take responsibility for YOURSELF.  Forget about dieting, using pills, or those “quick fix” workouts - there is no secret to getting into shape, all it is is making the decision to do it AND STICKING TO IT!  I’d like to say this just one more time:

THERE IS NO SECRET TO GETTING INTO SHAPE, IT IS MAKING A DECISION AND STICKING TO IT.

I know you can do it because I did it.  Me, Miss Start-something-and-never-finish-it, did it.  I lost 15 pounds and dropped 2 pants sizes because I didn’t quit.  People will always make the excuse that they don’t have time to exercise but will still complain about how fat or out-of-shape they are.  Hey, if you have time to complain, you have time to exercise; if you have time to watch tv, you have time to exercise; if you have time to surf the web after you get home, you have time to exercise.  Maybe you feel like you don’t have the energy, then start small.  No need to begin jumping rope or sprinting - take a walk.  Gradually increase your speed until you start jogging.  If you get home after dark, do squats.  Buy a home-exercise video (I highly recommend Turbo Jam).  There are ways to get into shape if you just think about it. 

Really, becoming fit is all up to you.  There is no way around it, it’s hard work.  But it can be fun, just find what it is you like to do and DO IT!  If you remember just one thing, remember this:

YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION AND JUST DO IT.

Happy exercising all.      

I had so much fun at this certification workshop!  Blasi Jacobi, who conducted the workshop, has such a positive attitude and incredible energy!  She kept the class fun, exciting, and interesting.  There was about 15 other girls who were in the class as well and they were all awesome! 

We learned the choreography for Round 32 (a round is a routine) and it was intense.  Turbo Kick classes are more challenging than Turbo Jam which for me is both exciting and a bit scary.  I’m excited at being pushed out of my comfort zone excercise-wise but I’m also nervous that I won’t be able to do it.  Eek!  Must keep positive attitude!  We also practiced cueing which I am told is the hardest part of teaching.  So, that is something that I will definitely be working towards being good at. 

There were so many things that were taught that it would be impossible to write it all down.  The most important thing, though, was that I had tons of fun.  The workshop and people totally exceeded my expectations.  I CAN’T WAIT to start teaching. 

Let me tell you what I’ve been up to and what I will soon be up to. 

The past two weeks, I have been exercising so much and loving every minute of it!  A little while before that, I was feeling tired and lethargic and I wasn’t sure why.  I’m still not entirely sure why, but I think it’s because I wasn’t eating enough to sustain my energy and not getting enough sleep.  So, I have been making more of a conscious effort to eat enough to get through my workouts and then some, and it’s working because I feel so great whenever I exercise now.  In the morning, I do a Turbo Jam workout (usually cardio with some weight lifting) and then after work, I run for 30 minutes before paddling practice starts, and practice usually goes for about 2 hours.  I love it that I can put in these hours of exercise and still come out energetic and ready for the next thing.  Now, I just have to work on getting those 8 hours of sleep in (but my gosh, who can do that?!?!). 

And now, for what I’m REALLY excited about: Tomorrow, I will attend a Turbo Kick (live class version of Turbo Jam) workshop to become certified to teach my very own Turbo Kick class!!!  I am uber excited but slightly nervous.  I shouldn’t be nervous, I know I’ll do great but there’s still those doubts that creep up in my mind that I am going to be the most inexperienced and uncoordinated one there.  I am also hoping and praying that when the workshop is finished, I’ll feel prepared and confident enough to actually teach a class.  The workshop will be given by Powder Blue Productions (Chalene Johnsons’ company) presenter Blasi Jacobi and over the phone and through email she seems like an absolutely awesome and positive person, so the class should be fun!  From the email she last sent out, it seems there will be about 11 other people taking the workshop.  *Sighs* Ah me, all I can say is that I am INCREDIBLY excited and I can’t wait to share with you how the training went.  I’ll be in touch! 

I usually like to exercise alone.  But recently, I have realized that I like to exercise with someone who is on the same fitness level or a little higher than I so that I can challenge myself to keep up with them.  Mind you, I wouldn’t want to exercise with someone who is a lot stronger, faster, and has more endurance than me because I can imagine the frustration on their part for having to slow down for me and the frustration with myself that I am holding them back.  Working out with someone who is on the same level as you, though, motivates you to try harder.  There’s something about having someone by your side while you’re exercising that gives you more energy and more determination to work harder.  It must be the competitive nature inside of all of us.

So, find yourself a partner who is on the same fitness level as you and find an exercise to do together.  You will have the pleasure of each other’s company and someone to compete against.  Good exercising!

Okay, at this particular moment in time, I am not being very healthy.  I am sitting at the computer with a caramel toffee brownie and scoop of ice cream in front of me.  Absolutely delicious but full of sugar and calories (and right after my paddling coach told us to start eating healthy).  What can I say, I have my weak moments.  Also, I play the justification game.  I exercised 3 times today and I tell myself that I “deserve” to have a little treat later.  “Deserve.” Pfft.  That’s just another way of me feeling better about stuffing my mouth with sugar and fat.

Okay, giving yourself a little treat now and then isn’t bad, but I do it quite often.  I exercise ALOT, and after I think, “Heck, I put in so much time, I should reward myself,” and then I’m off to the refrigerator to look for a little something to satisfy my sweet tooth.  You can eat foods that you like but in moderation.  And I’m thinking that moderation means once every two weeks.

One food that I noticed satisfies my sweet tooth without me eating sugars and fats are grapes.  I love grapes.  That is a mission that I must embark on - finding healthy alternatives to satisfy my seemingly insatiable sweet tooth.  I’m off!

Hahaha!  I’m such an idiot!  Whenever I heard the term “empty calories” before, I always thought it meant there were no calories in the food/drink being consumed.  Wrong.  What it actually means is that there is no nutritional value in the calories being consumed.  I often hear that alcohol has empty calories… hmm… taken as a once in a while treat is good but indulging in it regularly gives you nothing but unhealthy extra calories. 

 Other foods that have empty calories (taken from Wikipedia):

• Sweets, soft drinks, beverages with a low juice component, and other foods containing sugar
• Margarine or shortening
• Butter, lard, and other high-saturated fats

While these foods are tasty (damnit!), it’s more healthy to eat them rarely or not at all.  Even eating them in moderation seems to be too much.

Eating right is the most challenging part of being healthy for me. I have always LOVED my McDonald’s cheeseburger & fries, baked potatoes, rich desserts, and cheese crackers. If someone puts a plate of anything (except vegetables) in front of me, it doesn’t have a prayer - I will attack that thing like there is no tomorrow. I realize that exercise is not enough for me to be healthy, I must be healthy on the inside as well as on the outside. And if I don’t start now, I will have a much harder time later in my life. So, I am on a quest to be conscious and smart about what I put into my body.

I bought three books the other day to help me with this. The first I purchased on Amazon.com called Nutrition for Dummies (I must start at the very beginning since I know nothing), and the other two I bought from a bookstore, Eat Better, Live Better and Diet & Health.  I have already started reading Eat Better, Live Better and am very excited about what I’m about to learn.
One thing that I have done to help myself eat better is to plan my meals.  I pack my lunch and snacks the night before so I am not stumped as to what I will eat for lunch the next day.  Whenever I find myself unprepared, I usually buy the most unhealthy things.  So, planning my meals for the next day is one way that will help me stay on track.

As I read and learn, I will keep you updated on how well *crosses fingers* I am doing.  Cheerio!