Fit Beautiful Life

I just have to vent. and also warn you ahead of time that this blog post might offend some of you. That is not the intention, I just want to have a real "conversation" and put my thoughts out there... I have been noticing lately that more and more people are obese. What is going on? I've always noticed the obesity problem but it seems lately when I'm out shopping and pay attention to those around me, that's really all I see. There is so much free information out there these days that I cannot believe we still choose not to do something to improve our health and well being. I have some over weight friends, some don't want to be over weight and "try" to change it. I have other friends that claim they are happy that way because they want to enjoy what they are eating and "live" life. I get it.... I too enjoy eating a bowl of ice cream but if I ate that way every meal, everyday, I'd be sick to my stomach.  I enjoy what I eat. I love the way...

Do you remember the New Year's Resolution you set in January? If you're like most, you may remember what it was but have probably "abandoned" it with some intent of focusing on the goal later. The problem is that we set goals that are too big or too broad or we try to set too many goals at once. Effective goal setting is starting with small goals and building on them. If the goals you set are not achievable or realistic, you will begin to feel discouraged and ultimately give up on them. For the past 2 years, I've been working on one goal, health and fitness. Now, I know that sounds broad but I started with small goals and built upon them. I started by working out 5 days a week, once I mastered that, I went on to the next piece. For me, that was clean eating. I ate what I perceived to be "healthy" before but really wanted to take it to the next level. Once that became a habit for me, I started working on other aspects, I created my Facebook page, star...

With only a few weeks to go until I step on stage this year, I have been spending more and more time acknowledging and examining the mental state of where I am and where I need to be.  It seems that the physical aspect of training and nutrition is more concrete and determined than the mental state.  Mentally I find it a challenge because unlike training there is no set plan as to how to think, what to feel, and when.  The mind is powerful and that is where the most discipline must be given.  One cannot measure the state of one's mind.   You can't log it or track it like a training log and check back to see your progress or how much more to add this week.  Thoughts are fluid, ever changing, and sometimes seemingly beyond our control. The truth is we can control our mind and our thoughts, but it takes great work and some disciplined soul searching.  For me, it has been more of deciding what it is I want and committing, or re-committing...

As with anything in life, preparation is the key to success! This couldn't be more true for fat loss!! How do I prepare? I cook all of my food ahead of time. Then, I weigh and measure everything and portion it out. As for my workouts, I go through my list of saved workouts and determine which ones I'm going to do and on which day. I have a small notebook that says " do what you love" on the cover; I converted that into my workout log!! I take it with me to the gym for a few reasons. First, I write down all of my sets, reps and weight used. secondly and most important, so that I can go back and see what I did last time. Having this info allows me to always push to do more!! I hope this inspires you to take the time to plan your week. If you already do this, how do you keep track of your meals and workouts? what method works for you? Do you feel lost if you don't? I forgot my workout log the other day and almost felt naked at the gym, lol!! As the old saying goes ...

So here we are, I have scheduled a photo shoot for June 7th and there is no turning back now. I have tried a few times before to get lean enough for this sort of thing (competition, etc.) and have failed. For me, the biggest challenge is diet and cardio. With the diet, it's not what I'm eating... I always eat healthy food, it's the amount I eat. I find that I will graze on almonds and thing like that during the day. Most of you would say "almonds are good for you" and it's true, they are. But, I was eating several handfuls beyond what was planned out in my caloric needs, so..... I would not be at a caloric deficit at the end of the week. You cannot lose fat without the deficit. The other way to achieve the deficit is through cardio, and I have a limited amount of time at the gym so getting in enough cardio is a challenge for me. So, what did I do? I got rid of all the almonds and peanut butter in my house so I cannot graze anymore. I will follow my meal plan ...