On the 8th day of no refined sugars. ... ... count me 9 pounds down! Absolutely amazing, considering the previous mutant stubbornness! This has evidently been the problem all along - the evil poison that I didn't even know I was consuming (or, if I did know I was consuming something sweet ie: candy, I didn't realize how truly horrible it was for me). I'm blown away right now - THIS is how it should be. THIS is what happens when a normal healthy person excercises regularly and eats clean/healthy. .... their body responds!! Hallelujah and praise the Lord!!! :) Clothes are fitting loose and that is a huge motivation in itself, to keep on working at it.
This journey has been an interesting one, to say the least. From excitement and hope to crazy frustration to elation over the beginning of long-awaited results. I have renewed hope that my efforts will pay off with continued hard work and patience, and that's a wonderful feeling!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Wow!
So. I am pretty excited to report that after 5 days of doing no refined sugar, I am down 5 pounds! I am convinced this is 'bloat' weight that was being retained because of evil refined sugar. I really couldn't be happier, though, because it is SOMETHING after so long of seemingly nothing, and I can't help but be filled with the conviction that THERE IS HOPE FOR ME YET! :)
Working out went well last week. Sore, sore muscles! The lower body workout made my deep glutes so sore it was ridiculous! (How did they get so OUT of shape in such a short time??) For my eating the past week I am actually following more of a weight watchers type plan to gauge my caloric intake, while still eating clean & low fat and making sure to get my protein (in addition to no refined sugar or sugar-added foods). My energy level for working out was fine with this. .. .. BUT, I admit to feeling hungry more often. This is surely an adjustment phase and rightly so, b/c I am now consuming about 500 less calories a day than I was before. With the P90X nutrition plan, I was consuming closer to 2100 calories - now I'm down to 1600 or so. I feel like this forces me to think about my food choices more.... what will fuel me better, what will stay with me longer? And that is a good habit and way of thinking for me to adopt long-term.
I am extremely hopeful that this no sugar change will also help my body to start burning more fat while I'm working out so strenuously. In my research on the evils of refined sugar
(refinedsugarisevil.blogspot.com)
I've learned the following (among many other interesting things): Consumption of sugar causes blood sugar levels in the body to rise, which stimulates insulin production.... . insulin tells the body not to burn stored fat. Body fat can't be burned when the body is converting glucose (sugar) into more body fat. So if you have too much sugar therefore too much insulin going on, your body is not going to burn stored fat for energy. Sugar also decreases growth hormone production, which is the key to staying youthful and lean.
Such a simple concept but it explains sooooo much!!! I'm tellin' ya - Refined Sugar is Evil. BAD STUFF!!!
Keep pushing play!! :)
Working out went well last week. Sore, sore muscles! The lower body workout made my deep glutes so sore it was ridiculous! (How did they get so OUT of shape in such a short time??) For my eating the past week I am actually following more of a weight watchers type plan to gauge my caloric intake, while still eating clean & low fat and making sure to get my protein (in addition to no refined sugar or sugar-added foods). My energy level for working out was fine with this. .. .. BUT, I admit to feeling hungry more often. This is surely an adjustment phase and rightly so, b/c I am now consuming about 500 less calories a day than I was before. With the P90X nutrition plan, I was consuming closer to 2100 calories - now I'm down to 1600 or so. I feel like this forces me to think about my food choices more.... what will fuel me better, what will stay with me longer? And that is a good habit and way of thinking for me to adopt long-term.
I am extremely hopeful that this no sugar change will also help my body to start burning more fat while I'm working out so strenuously. In my research on the evils of refined sugar
(refinedsugarisevil.blogspot.com)
I've learned the following (among many other interesting things): Consumption of sugar causes blood sugar levels in the body to rise, which stimulates insulin production.... . insulin tells the body not to burn stored fat. Body fat can't be burned when the body is converting glucose (sugar) into more body fat. So if you have too much sugar therefore too much insulin going on, your body is not going to burn stored fat for energy. Sugar also decreases growth hormone production, which is the key to staying youthful and lean.
Such a simple concept but it explains sooooo much!!! I'm tellin' ya - Refined Sugar is Evil. BAD STUFF!!!
Keep pushing play!! :)
Friday, October 15, 2010
Renewed Energy
I am now doing this thing minus the refined sugars! (aka: nothing with sugar added in the ingredients, no sugar except natural/fruit sugars). Discovered that my mom has an extreme sensitivity to refined sugar. .. . . logic follows that I may have it, too. So I'm going to give it a try. Sugar might just be my problem (along with thyroid hormones, which are re-corrected as of yesterday). Refined sugar causes your cells to retain fluid and mass, and also the metabolism of refined sugar actually steals other nutrients, minerals, enzymes, etc. from your body's tissues and organs. .... among many other nasty things. Bad, BAD stuff. And even though I've been eating the P90X way that still includes things that have sugar added (not to mention those little 'treats' I allow myself, which are almost always sugar-laden).
So far so good. I haven't had a lot of nasty withdrawal symptoms, save a little extra irritability. I'm on day 3. The biggest thing was cutting out my creamer, which I love to have with my (decaf) coffee. Black coffee?? Ugh. But it really hasn't been bad. Which just goes to show that once you set your mind to something, you can do just about anything!! The mind is a powerful tool!
Plyometrics didn't turn out to be as bad as I had made it in my mind. It was tough, no doubt - a definite heart rate kicker-upper...... but I didn't flog out as badly as I thought, and I didn't seem to have too much trouble with the knees. I tried to modify a little on some, to reduce the high impact.
FYI, I started another blog - this one specifically about the evils of refined sugar. The address is: refinedsugarisevil.blogspot.com Check it out if you want to find out more about what truly evil effects this poison has on your body!! It explains a LOT about why our country is facing an epidemic of obesity and ill health.
Back at the program, this is week 1. Shoulders and arms really caused a lot of soreness for me! I think I was sore til almost Wedesday - whew! Using your own body weight as a tool (aka: pushups, pull ups) really is a great way to build. This weekend I think definitely I will go out for a run as the weather is supposed to be great!!
Keep pushing play! :)
So far so good. I haven't had a lot of nasty withdrawal symptoms, save a little extra irritability. I'm on day 3. The biggest thing was cutting out my creamer, which I love to have with my (decaf) coffee. Black coffee?? Ugh. But it really hasn't been bad. Which just goes to show that once you set your mind to something, you can do just about anything!! The mind is a powerful tool!
Plyometrics didn't turn out to be as bad as I had made it in my mind. It was tough, no doubt - a definite heart rate kicker-upper...... but I didn't flog out as badly as I thought, and I didn't seem to have too much trouble with the knees. I tried to modify a little on some, to reduce the high impact.
FYI, I started another blog - this one specifically about the evils of refined sugar. The address is: refinedsugarisevil.blogspot.com Check it out if you want to find out more about what truly evil effects this poison has on your body!! It explains a LOT about why our country is facing an epidemic of obesity and ill health.
Back at the program, this is week 1. Shoulders and arms really caused a lot of soreness for me! I think I was sore til almost Wedesday - whew! Using your own body weight as a tool (aka: pushups, pull ups) really is a great way to build. This weekend I think definitely I will go out for a run as the weather is supposed to be great!!
Keep pushing play! :)
Monday, October 11, 2010
The Return
Well, I took a hiatus. Mostly due to discouragement and frustration but really it's not that far off from taking the recommended two weeks between rounds anyway. :) But now I am back on track, starting the Classic P90X. Yesterday was day 1. I decided to make my day 1 on a Sunday versus Monday, so that my rest days are actually Saturday. This will work out better for weekend activities - so if there is something going on or I'm out of town Saturday not working out is ok b/c it's my rest day - hopefully I can still salvage Sunday's workout when I get home from said trip or activity.
I have not tried the plyometrics workout as of yet, but that's what I'm schedule for tonight. Having done Lean vs. Classic before, plyo wasn't part of the lean routine. It kinda scares me b/c I saw a youtube vid a gal made with a segment of plyo and it looks INTENSE. Yikes, hope my knees hold up! I imagine the pause button will come into play quite often. Some of the moves have already been introduced in other workouts, so at least they're not all brand new to me at this point......
With my thyroid condition (though supposedly I'm 'regulated' through medication) I may just have to accept the fact that I'll always have to work harder and longer at any fitness program than the average (non-thyroid condition) person to get the same results. I'm in the process of getting more concrete medical answers on this subject.
Overall, however, I know I feel better about myself and life in general to work out. So, I will continue. Pressing play every day is more challenging on some days than others, to be sure - but I'm striving to keep on doing it as many days as I possibly can!
I have not tried the plyometrics workout as of yet, but that's what I'm schedule for tonight. Having done Lean vs. Classic before, plyo wasn't part of the lean routine. It kinda scares me b/c I saw a youtube vid a gal made with a segment of plyo and it looks INTENSE. Yikes, hope my knees hold up! I imagine the pause button will come into play quite often. Some of the moves have already been introduced in other workouts, so at least they're not all brand new to me at this point......
With my thyroid condition (though supposedly I'm 'regulated' through medication) I may just have to accept the fact that I'll always have to work harder and longer at any fitness program than the average (non-thyroid condition) person to get the same results. I'm in the process of getting more concrete medical answers on this subject.
Overall, however, I know I feel better about myself and life in general to work out. So, I will continue. Pressing play every day is more challenging on some days than others, to be sure - but I'm striving to keep on doing it as many days as I possibly can!
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