Getting Stopped!!

Weighing in produced an interesting, unexpected ripple. I’d lost 1½ pounds since weighing in 11 days prior. Carsten said that if I maintain this course, I’d lose 10 pounds in 6 weeks. Suddenly, fixated on weight goals, I lost sight of my well-being goal of creating a sustainable lifestyle that continues well after my weight and fitness goals are met. Making excuses for not being rigorous with rest, snacks and exercise, I allowed my small victory to take over. My efforts to workout were weak, slacking as much as possible, in fact, my downslide continued until today when I forced myself, after ‘snoozing’ several times, to squeeze in the gym for 20 minutes.

Using tools from Landmark Education I saw that what was missing was focus, so I created the possibility of being inspired and focused, and began taking actions to support this possibility. I got back on track!

What’s missing for you? What possibility can you create and start living into right now?

Reality of knowing what's so....

So, I saw my trainer last week and he measured my body fat with two different measurement methods. First I stood on a special scale that allowed him to collect all sorts of data including my weight, body fat percentage and body mass index. Then he used calipers and measured my body fat under my arm, above the hip and on my thigh (that was fun!). He stated that neither method is 100% accurate however with information from both of them, we can get a pretty good idea of where I’m at in regard to excess body fat.

I have to say, I’ve never measured my body fat, never paid attention to how it’s done and had no idea whether my measurements were good or bad. After weighing and measuring me Carsten went to a website to plug the numbers into a formula and check out my body mass index (BMI). He said it was 35.5 on the scale and 32 with the calipers. Neither sounded horrible to me, but I was clueless. Ideally a womans BMI should be in the 20’s and a mans slightly lower than that.

EEEEEEEKKKK! To my dismay, I have much work to do. I mean, I knew that, but I guess because I can hold a lot of weight and not look like it, I was hoping my BMI wasn’t so awful. I can see that I was looking for a way to ‘look good’ with a low BMI rather than simply look to see what’s so with my BMI and move forward from there. It’s so amazing how quickly my mind goes to trying to ‘look good’ even when the reason I even went to a physical trainer in the first place was to get healthy, be fit and stop trying to hide behind styles of clothing that ‘cover up’ what is there that I don’t want to be there (like excess fat and rolls).

Introducing Delight

Fitness History
I was always a big boned kid, but had lanky limbs until I hit my 20’s when my metabolism seemed to slow a bit and my curves began to show. With a BFA in Dance, and having studied classical ballet for many years, you would think that I’d have a waif-like body. Not true. Indeed I’m a little stockier than most ballerinas and have thick muscles. While growing up a ‘tom-boy’ this might not be a surprise, but with a degree in dance and having spent day after day in front of the mirror with tiny dancers on either side of me at the ballet barre, being big boned was no joy ride. When I hit the 35 year mark is when the weight really began to show and I started to fluctuate between a size 8 and 12. Having tried fad diets I lost 20 pounds on the Atkins only to be gained back quickly. A few years later I took Bill Phillips’ Body For Life Challenge and lost 20 pounds in 12 weeks. It was great, but I wasn't really enjoying the new lifestyle enough to continue with it. I didn’t mind the protein drinks however I really didn't like putting supplements into my system. The weight slowly returned and here I sit weighing in at the top of this program at 160.5 pounds. That’s what my scale read, but in the next few days I’ll be heading out for several doctor appointments, so I’ll get the official weight then. What I like about this program is that I get to say how it goes. I know what to do, we all do, eat fewer calories than you burn. Basically eat less and work-out more.

A New Journey
Well, eating less and working out more is certainly my intention, but I won’t be counting calories, at least not at first. First of all, I’m going to add green into my diet, more raw foods and exercise. I'm currently reading The Raw Food Detox Diet by Natalia Rose to learn how our body responds to various foods and food combinations. I have an appointment to meet with a professional trainer this Wednesday, Carsten Beckman who has helped my friend Bob lose 70 pounds in the last year and a half. I will also be very intentional as this program demands integrity at every level. I’m looking forward to altering my lifestyle so that the foods I’m eating support my nutritional well being and provide me with the energy I need to work, play and make a difference for others, without compromising my health.

The Program
Well here I am, day one. Whew. I started with my green drink and lots of water. I've been eating more frequently and in smaller portions and I'm getting ready to get some physical fitness in before turning in for my 6 hours (min). This part will be tough for me, the minimum number of hours of sleep. You see, I pulled an all-nighter last night and I have enough to keep me busy for another.... ah, but it's about well-being. I better get out of here, then. I have an early appointement and an hour drive home. Hey girls, have fun. Remember to bring grace and ease into your week one. I'm looking forward to hear how you're doing...... Delight!!