Embrace the SUCK! :)

Finding what eating plan works for YOU sucks! Let’s be honest! Why can’t the exact same eating plan work for every single person, and the ones that can stay with the plan will be gloriously fit, ripped, toned, have muscle gains, or whatever your happy place in your body happens to be. Someone, please tell me why it cannot be just that simple!?

One of the problems in finding success in your eating plan is figuring out which “expert” plan/information to take on for yourself. With the internet, we have so much more information than ever before, which only seems to lead to mass confusion. One person says every serious dieter needs to be counting macros. Another “expert” will exclaim the paleo lifestyle is the only real way to stick to a plan lifelong. Others will say just count your calories, or take away carbs, or just watch your portions. On and on and on… until you are so confused, you just give up. It is a little bit insane….

Here is what I have learned from changing my diet about a million times….. LISTEN TO YOURSELF! Start a plan…which ever plan seems like it is doable (this is important. If it seems overwhelmingly undoable, then you will likely not stick to the plan. Like I cannot be told what I will eat for each meal. Those plans turn me off immediately. So I don’t even try to do those.) Get on that plan & stick with that damn thing like super glue! No varying off for at least 10 days. On day 10, hop on the scale to see what has happened. If you have lost weight, then great! You are lucky, this plan is working for you so keep on keeping on. If you have not lost weight (and you’ve been honestly sticking to it, glue remember?), then this is not the plan for you. Move onto something else. You could tweak it some or just try another “expert’s” eating plan.

I wanted to count macros. I did the endless research (because that shit is confusing when you first start!), had my macros calculated (like a million times to make sure I was getting common results) & started eating according to my macros. It was really tough. And I GAINED weight! Seriously!?!?! I will be honest, I was pissed! But really this plan was just not for me. (and yes, I am sure somehow I was screwing it up, but it doesn’t matter. That just further confirms it was not the plan for me!) Moving ON!

The only thing that has worked for me is to stick to eating: protein, veggies, & fruit. Period. I have my best results when I stick to eating this way. THANK YOU baby Jesus! Finally down pounds after being on a plateau for months (after losing 25 pounds)!

So embrace the suck & figure out what works for YOU! J

These are JUST Gym Clothes, Right?

“You should really think about investing in a pair of Lululumon pants”…..now, any time we are talking about workout clothes, and you throw in the word “invest”, you’ve lost me. These are clothes I get good and sweaty in right? I mean we are talking about the clothes I wipe my sweaty face off with or my hands when I find somehow in the middle chiseling a new bod, I’ve also picked up some crud & I wipe them off on my pants…right? We are talking about clothes for these dirty, sweaty activities? Then do NOT say the word invest, because I just threw up a little bit in my mouth!

Now, don’t get me wrong… I’ve heard the Lulu clothes are great and I am quite sure they are, but you will not find my sweaty fanny in them. I refuse to pay that much for clothes that frankly I would likely be too afraid to mess up while I am getting my pump on in my garage gym.

I love workout clothes. I always have. I would stay in workout clothes day in and day out if I could. And I do have quite the workout clothes collection (as any self- respecting gym rat should!) It is actually a little bit insane. But I probably have never paid more than $25 or any one piece. (usually a lot less actually) So, where do I get my clothes:

·         Academy is probably my number 1 go to place for workout gear. They have their own brand & I happen to love it! It is so much cheaper but it works great & lasts! (most pieces are $14-$24)

·         My next go to is actually regular t-shirts. I get great t-shirts that I love and then make my own edits to make them my clutch workout shirts. (you know edits: lose the sleeves, cut the neck, and lastly the bottom = bye bye)

·         Target! Who doesn’t L O V E  target’s workout section?

·         Ebay…yes I said ebay…I get some of the more expensive pieces I simply have to have on ebay. They are loads cheaper but you can get most with the tags still on! (this is where I get my really awesome sport bras for my lady lumps! Gotta support these babies the right way! lol )

Now this refers to the workout clothes…..my shoes are a whole other matter entirely. I actually DO spend money on my shoes. Gotta do it. The shoes can effect everything else – your feet, legs, back, shoulders…just every part of the bod. But I do get some of my shoes from the kids section because I have small feet which makes them, you guessed it, CHEAPER.

I love workout stuff, but invest likely will never be in my vocabulary.

 

 

Breaking the Habit....damn it!

Breaking the habit….. damn it!

 

I am what we call a serious creature of habit. It is strange and enclosing. I mean seriously, who can eat the same breakfast day in and day out AND kept the same job for 10 years through their entire 20s? No one! I am the type of person that likes things to be the same over and over. I think that makes me feel so wrapped in the softest blanket of safety. It is firm! No surprises. Habit can be so limiting though. And honestly, I just figured this out about me at the ripest of age, 38. Self awareness much? Or nah?

So how did I figure out my habitual habit issue? My f’ing workouts! I got a plan from a supposed trainer (it was an online trainer so who the hell knows what’s actually true!) And I have been doing it without giving it much thought since then. And my cardio doesn’t change much either. You hear people say all the time that in order to see great change, you have to become so freakishly uncomfortable as to create something super shiny brand new in yourself.  But that is a quote that is easy to say, harder to put into action. I like my workout plan. I like eating the same breakfast every single day. And right there is my warm fuzzy blanket syndrome. Let’s go lady, drop the blanket & step into the skimpy swimsuit! Okay? Hello!

I have to live my fitness journey more out of intent than habit. I intend to be awesomely fit. Therefore, I have to shake it all up. I have to keep the parts that are working to move me forward and drop kick the crap I do just to stay in my blankie! Time to really revamp it all. And see something so new in me. Which will eventually have me looking less like a 38 year old mom and hopefully more like my husband’s sexy ass wife = ageless!

Bye bye habits! (most of them anyway! Let's not get tooo crazy J )