Thursday, September 29, 2011

“Doggie Bag Queen”



“Doggie Bag Queen”


This entry is a pun on Portion Control:
In recent years, portions have been gradually getting bigger with the introduction of king-size chocolate bars, super-sized fast food meals, & even larger drinks from 8oz to almost a whooping 40oz at the movie theater which sad to say still may not be their largest size.


                          Due to the economic changes, many restaurants may feel the need to make portions larger as to attract more customers, but in turn they may actually be doing more damage for the overall mass population. Larger portions can encourage us to eat greater quantities of these unhealthy food choices, which is why almost three quarters of Americans are overweight, one in two Americans have one or more chronic diseases. As for future generations, one in three children born today will have type II diabetes. When it comes to how much to eat, think more about 'down-sizing' rather than 'super-sizing' for most foods, except fruit and vegetables.


 I could go on and on about the stats and also about how to re-route this energy , but the bottom line, is just because they serve it doesn’t mean that you have to consume all of it in one sitting. By all means, there’s a reason the refrigerator was invented, and whoever came up with the idea of Tupperware & microwaves definitely was a forward thinker. So Cheers to that PHENOMENON!

Anyhow I took the liberty to write this because my very own sweetie, dubbed me the crown and said that I’m so predictable when we eat out. I pretty much always bring something home. In the old days I used to be shy about bringing the food home, but no MORE..
DOWN with being wasteful!!!

There’s far to many unfortunate who are forced to miss meals because of life’s general hardships and poverty. Not to mention, why not get your money’s worth even if you have to finish your meal at home? 


 After all you may be able to spruce it up to your liking if the meal was a bit bland or in my case not necessarily the temperature that I would have liked. At any rate, indeed this weekend was the first time that I actually finished at least one of my meals to its entirety. I was so PROUD of my self. But I also looked at the menu and then realized that I had a literal light menu. It wasn’t only light in the sense of the calories but I think who ever put the preparation of the meal and the menu together was definitely thinking of me. 




AND for that, I’ll still GLADLY keep my 

      CROWN, of course, as "Doggie-Bag 
Queen"!!!!!!

   Thanks and Best health Wishes ,
Lawino-J






Tracking My Progress……9/11/2011…Here I am as follows……


Tracking My Progress……9/11/2011…Here I am as follows……



Ok so I'm Tracking My Progress……9/11/2011…Here I am as follows……Drumroll please.......tum-tum chi!...

After 35 days of changing course on my workouts and 28days of changing my nutrition regimen,
                                                    
                    
 
I am at a deficit of -13 lbs.  It’s great news for me. It’s a bit fast , but it’s because I’ve gone a bit EXTREME. I figured, I’d charge it to the game. Not only am I keeping a journal, but I’ve employed the assistance of electronic gadgets. For my B-day, My honey bought me a heart rate polar watch to motivate me. I also occasionally use “My Fitness Pal” app. It’s amazing, it gives me the charts.

My Progress on the Fitness Pal App

example : breakfast
I am doing it all. First I have scheduled at least 3 work-outs and actually put them into my google calendar. I have noticed that the more and more I put more time into work, the less time I have for myself. I don’t know if that’s normal for anyone else. I find myself with less and less time to think. In my recollection of memories, my greatest times were the times I dedicated at least an hour or two to think. During those times, I usually was at a local park, fitness center or Recreational center. My thoughts have always been rampant and random. I fundamentally use it for thinking about what I could accomplish on that day or going forward. It gives me the opportunity to also create new goals or meditate on my past behaviors.


If you are not familiar with "My fitness Pal" then.....Read Below
My Fitness Pal app has categories, such breakfast items.
It show's such categories such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, & etc. It gives the calories needed to stay within the targeted daily goal and also if you go over, it tells you.










My old routine was also extreme. I would get up at 4:45 am, Head out the door by 5:15, get to MARTA ( Doraville ) and by  6:00am or 6:15ish I would be at the rec center. I would be on treadmill or track upstairs 4th level for my 60 minute run, followed by a calm 30 mins recumbent bike or 30 min swim. I would do this on mon/wed & fri.   My pre-workout  meal would be either a cup of apple cinnamon oatmeal with two scrambled egg whites or ½  marathon bar (snickers) this was a treat because it tasted like candy. Occasionally I would eat an apple , as well as ½ protein bar of sorts ( the brand didnt matter). In those days I was kind of new to independent fitness. I had finished my first year of college and visited my alma mater and gone to my younger sisters graduation. Shes actually a year younger than me and was always a grade behind me. At that graduation I bumped into some of my former classmates and at that time, I guess it was a reality check.
I refuse to put names to the comments, but this was the time that someone had said, “Oh my, You look so different, I didnt recognize you!”.    I was assuming they meant I look different because I had just shaved my head almost two months prior to her graduation. Really they were referring to my size. I had gone from being like no more than size 4 (125lbs at most), to my new size of almost 14 ( 182lbs) . Ok so I get it. It was an INSANE image of what was formally recognizable to anyone who had known me in high-school. Me, of all people a fitness enthusiast , was out of whack at the time. I really was in denial. I hadnt grasped reality. Come to think of it, that same statement could have been done in the reverse. If I had stayed away for a year and came back close to 60lbs less, then YES, I could say that is definitely enough talk for the entire neighborhood.

What was I thinking? 

What had happened? How did I even progress to that stage?
Its crazy , looking back. Each time I think about that insane time in my life, I begin to rip apart all of the elements. I guess you can say that I did take the “freshmen” 15 out of proportion. I suppose if I was trying to prove that I could accomplish anything, then I did. I proved that not only could I lean on the stereotype of freshmen 15, but I had done it better than most. I almost doubled that stereotype.  Its good that I love a challenge. Because shortly after those comments were made, I decided to make myself a goal and wouldnt stop at anything. It was definitely slow, but steady. I cannot recall the exact date , but let me tell you . From Like June 2003 to August 2003, I had already lost 30 lbs and it put me at 152lbs.  I then made new fitness friends that fall that preferred to work out after class, which meant like 6pm. I kept my am work out and also did after class workouts 2x a week that fall semester & added the ab blast 20 minutes to  my workouts.

If you have a smartphone put this code to get this AWESOME fitness app!!!!



It was truly honoring, looking back , to see the kind of influence and transformation that I went through. I was definitely on the “I can do all things”-Phil 4:13 Mode. It was VERY difficult to sway me any other direction. I can even remember the days when I had  started clubbing with friends. I didn’t even engage in alcoholic beverages in those days. Call me LAME, but I didn’t care. I was the envy of most of my company, whether I got complimented or criticized. That sort of Bravery and Courage are what I am aiming to get back to in 2011 . My pre-game consisted of a nice evening meal,Lots of Gatorade & water, and that am I would do my traditional 60 minute run . Around 3 , 5, and even 6 am , friends would want to do the McD’s run or even Waffle run, of course I would go , but for the most part , I kept granola bars in my car and carried occasional apples, bananas, and oranges. Those were always my favorite snacks. Water bottles were a staple in my car. You could find those year round in my vehicle or all over my pantry on fridge. Overall, around February 2004 I had actually made it to 130lbs, I was back to 4 and size wasn’t too hard to squeeze into. I had lost a lot of bust , but I didn’t care. I pretty much had CONQUERED what for me initially was a wake up call.  



As usual, close family and friends became a bit concerned and kept asking me if I had employed unhealthy behaviors. It wasn’t true. I did it all with dedication. In 2004, that was the year I became a certified Personal Trainer with AFFA & got a job a the local BALLY’s. I taught group classes, senior fit aqua aerobics, & also became the weekend front desk manager.  I did it for roughly two years and also changed my major that spring from Pre-Nursing to Exercise Science. 











So now it was complete. I went from a chubby girl to an extra fit local “guru”.
Anyhow, now you know my secret, this was my health story. But I’m creating a   new one and more to come. I appreciate the encouragement and feedback that I have received over the years. It has helped me mold my priorities and change my image over and over again. 

That’s the beautiful thing about life; it’s all about the many chances we are given to make changes over & over again. I am blessed enough to have been surrounded once again by people who constantly remind me either about my health or further more push me to my next limits.

Until next time, Best Health wishes….Lawino-J




Sunday, September 11, 2011

It Goes much Deeper than we think: GREEN TEA

Green TEA !It Goes much Deeper than we think: GREEN TEA

GREEN TEA


Several of my Friends and Family have asked me this question….and especially lately since many have taken to notice I tend to drink one a day ( a cup of TEA) especially when I am DETOXING..More importantly, Green TEA is the one I’m referring to. So I decided to go ahead and write at least 10 reasons I could think of. MOST importantly I use # 4  and find it to be true from personal experience. As with any other natural remedies, results are usually individual and do not work for everyone. So my disclaimer is: do it at your own risk and don’t try to follow me if you are not aware of your own body and how it works. By No means am I certified to advise many but I can only claim my personal experiences .My main focus is to answer a few things and also share with you my personal experience. So crazy as it seems..here goes….









This is the list of benefits of GREEN TEA which I’ve found as I Have read and studied about over the years.

1.     It is used to treat multiple sclerosis.
2.     It is used for treatment and prevention of cancer.
3.     It is used to stop Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
4.     It is used to raise the metabolism and increase fat oxidation.
5.     It reduces the risk of heart diseases and heart attacks by reducing the risk of thrombosis.
6.     It reduces the risk of esophageal cancer. 

7.     Drinking green tea inhibits the growth of certain cancer cells, reduces the level of cholesterol in blood, improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol.
8.     It is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular diseases
9.     It is used to treat impaired immune function. .
10.                       Some researches show that, drinking green tea regularly may help prevent tooth decay by killing the bacteria which causes the dental plaque 






 TOAST & ENJOY!!!


Friday, September 9, 2011

How external factors may sabotage your weightless & health maintenance goals!!

1.  Lol.... This is even more interestingly funny to me. 
The family & friends that normally are stingy when it comes to offering goodies seem or appear more generous than normal. .. All of a sudden they are buying ice-cream for you or "intentionally" eating sweets around you like your favorite pound cake or velvet ice-cream. Then once again, you've already confessed your commitment to health &fitness; they continue to probe you on all the reasons that its just one time; how possibly this one time couldn't potentially affect all the others.....

( Quick Fix: let them know that you are not completely opposed to the cakes &sweets; however you'll take them on their offer at a different time. )

2. The new hangout offers have CONVENIENTLY transitioned to Buffets & Brunches rather than the old skool offer of 'meeting' for coffee or a drink.....these two Bs are probably the most sabotaging. For one in buffets , just because there are so many things presented before you.... The temptations to splurge is just too great. Even if you are only pinching a little here & a little there.......those "littles" turn into Biggies. Plus you also occasionally run into over-indulging too much of one food group rather a true variety.

3. It's easier to find friends who are hungry that to find friends who are aching to go for a run! This one never fails in my case.......so crazy but true. It's easy to find one for a quick consultation , who will be will to semi- support you on your journey on day one, but a few days later they have already lost interest. YES, let's go a bit further..... So you leave them at the beginning of the starting line & as you approach the finish......they continue to ask you how you're so much ahead of them!  The facts are simple, you stuck it out!!!!!! When everyone else fell off the initial wagon, you stayed on board. And for that, YAHOO...you've almost Made it.

( quick fix #1: suggest physical get- togethers..... Perhaps a park, a dancing social, or even a yoga event ) -- quick fix #2: everyone loves free , find a local free event that may involve some physical event rather fixated or geared towards food.... For example, a county fair ....


4. Depressing days are fixated around using food as a cure.... The ice-cream or cake, or cookie once again... I get this, and personally for me I keep referring to the cake or the ice-cream... (thEsE were my main sabotages) ( quick fix# 1: food is not the answer) -- quick fix# 2: refer back to your journal of success  to remind you of how far you've travelled.


5. Last but not least.... Your company...the company you keep or associate with has a whole lot to do with many of your decisions. It's only natural for us to want to feel socially accepted and please those around us. So we try to hide our differences to blend in. In addition we tend to listen to even those who don't have the same goals as us , to give us advice.

(quick fix# 1:  Remain Strong & Focused on your journey
Quick fix # 2: your receipt of advice should come from those with like-minded individuals Quick fix # 3: all others may provide perspective, but as explained before ... Only keep it in perspective ;-) ----