Tag: workout

30 days to MAJOR results

HastonHelpingHands2 Comments

Dear Readers,

Update on Voice audition– After standing in line with thousands in the cold and windy air in Houston, I felt the MOST prepared I have EVER felt for an audition, every nerve standing on end and confident that I was about to KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK– (fitting since we were in the ballpark!! I stepped into the room with 9 other hopefuls and one of the producers from NBC’s hit show, “The Voice”- I sang my heart out, but did not advance. Most important takeaway for me? I KNOW that I did 100% my best, and can only surmise that my “type” is not being cast this season. It always SUCKS OUT LOUD to be rejected no matter how well you deal with it but I am undaunted and will be back next year as well, I WILL BE ON THE VOICE! Adam Levine, I am talking to you!

But back to the reason for this post- Drum roll, please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today marks 30 days of eating completely healthy (no processed foods, no dairy, and no sugar)  and I am overjoyed to report the loss of 20 pounds from my frame!!!!!!!     I did a true double take as I looked down at the scale. I said.. that can’t be right.. I haven’t been doing it that long.. They say it takes 30 days to form a habit and I can truly say that in the last thirty days I have formed the habit of thinking like a healthy, fit woman.

It really is all in the framing of what you say. – When offered a sweet treat, I say “I am not eating sugar today. That alone says volumes. I am not eating sugar.. (today) which puts all the power and control in my hands. It opens the possibility that I am in control and am CHOOSING to eat healthy. I used to say, “No thanks, I am being good today”

I love what I read online about that.. “if you say you are bad, did you beat some orphans and club some seals?.. no you ate a cookie/brownie/piece of cake/(insert your feel good food), stop saying you are bad..” The words we use matter- especially in talking to yourself..(thanks Amy Cuddy–)  I have been saying for thirty days. “Think Thin”
“No More Diets” and “Baby Steps” — I am also reading an AWESOME book called “Beck Diet Solution” which focuses on your triggers and what makes you overeat in the first place and it focuses heavily on changing your behavior.. If you act thin, you will be thin.

Sounds revolutionary, right? Well not really.. If you look through all the blogs about losing weight, they all basically boil down to the same thing.. Eat less, Exercise More. We all KNOW what we need to do to lose weight, its just really hard.. so we don’t do it.

30 days ago I was 300 pounds which depressed me, not just because I had worked hard to lose over 75 pounds back in 2014, and then gained it ALL back and then some, I was also struggling with bad habits, I would hit the fast food about 3 times a week because its fast and cheap. I would also have a rough day, or be tired and eat some ice cream because I FELT like it. In turn, I would DECIDE not to work out because I did not “FEEL” like it.

The truth is, I have a pretty big goal, I want to be healthy and fit so I can be in the best possible shape so when the time comes for us to have a baby, I will be in the best possible shape and will have already formed the habit of healthy eating so as to pass it on to our child as a the kind of mom I want to be will involve modeling healthy behavior for food and boundaries and whole lot of other things.. I don’t even know about yet.. Let’s face it.. before people are parents, they make a lot of grand predictions because they THINK they know.. I am excited to take that journey.. but have NO IDEA what’s in store.

By the way, in writing this post, I am in no way saying one number on a scale is any better than another. If you are loving your body and feel great about yourself being a certain weight, SING ON ! This is my blog, this post is about me and I AM NOT FINE WITH BEING 300 POUNDS so I decided to change it.

Back in October, I did an interview about what it means to be TRULY confident.. and it was published today. I don’t think its an accident that its on the same day that I have started feeling much better about myself and how I look and feel. Nice to have those things line up!

For further thoughts on what makes me TRULY CONFIDENT- check out the skype interview I did for the completely awesome Joey Phillipi at http://trulyconfidentwomen.com/

Here’s my interview !! https://youtu.be/fjs8JFw2a4s

For you, what does it mean to be TRULY CONFIDENT!

Think about it… voicew

 

 

It’s all about perspective….

HastonHelpingHands5 Comments

Dear Readers,

I talk a LOT about perspective on this blog, but you know its an important topic.

If you are someone who is starting a new diet, your perspective might be, “wow, I have a really long way to” but a better way to look at it is. “I am starting something new that is healthy and will take time for me to figure out how to do well”

If you are someone who is planning to run a 10 mile race in three months (insert scream here) you might say.. “gosh I haven’t worked out nearly enough to get to that goal.. but a better way to say it “I have thrown my hat over the wall and made a financial commitment to be more responsible about my health and that will take time and patience”

If you are someone who auditioned for the show “Chicago” with dreams of singing and dancing to “All That Jazz” and didn’t get a callback or the role, you might think, I should just give up, show business is so hard and its really unforgiving, a better way to look at it is. “I held my own with career dancers and brought it with a song” I may not be what they are looking for right now, but one day soon, I will be, I just need to keep working and playing and auditioning and studying and treating myself as the artist I am and it will lead to wonderful things.

So if you are not feeling particularly Pollyanna or Tony Robbins at the moment, I hear that, (that is kind of why I wrote the blog today to snap myself out of a funk) just don’t stay in the funk, take a beat and think about what you can reframe or change in your kaleidoscope and find the best possible way to look at it and think of this…. and be sure to yell, that is the best part of this advice! IMG_0258

Why do we have to hear “good job” from someone else to believe it?

HastonHelpingHands1 Comment

External validation. Likes on Facebook, but more importantly, comments on facebook and text messages (I hate them, but when they are encouraging its a little easier to swallow).

Case in point, my husband and I are both working very hard to eliminate our debt and I was feeling a little down about the (in my mind) small progress we have made since we started in August of 2012. Then in talking with a friend, she helped me see, well no, actually you have done amazing things in the last year and a half. I have successfully walked in 2 organized 5K events and have a big one coming up at the end of March. This is really helping me to stay focused and moving steadily towards the goal of more running and eating well.

Regarding my own personal weight loss goals, I have been feeling discouraged of late, but again, another supportive friend said, well, look at what you have done just over the last few months. I have committed to working out 3 times a week and for the last month and a half, I have done that. Yes, I have complained, and really struggled but I have still done it. So, I am taking a moment, today right now to recognize myself for a few things.

Last year at this time, I was NOT exercising at all and just starting to explore a healthier diet. This year, I am working out three times a week and eating healthy. Last year, I was working out maybe once a week and that was a big maybe. Today when I worked out, I ran/walked a mile in under 20 minutes. In just a month, that number has gone from 20 minutes to 18 minutes. Today, when I worked out, I did not have any chafing because my body is getting used to working out and that’s a big win as far as I am concerned. Today, when I worked out, it sucked a little less. I may never get to the point that I like it but I do like how it makes me feel to finish and picturing all the people who love and support me really helps me get to minute 60 of my workout. (You know who you are!)

So I have resolved to be okay with the fact that I need the outside support, and welcome it. I am further resolved to recognize my own achievements and really rejoice in the incremental victories. For instance, today I did not want to workout AT ALL but I got up and did and I am glad because it inspired this post and I feel energized and ready to tackle the day.

Think about who you can reach out and support with a phone call or email or encouraging comment on Facebook or Twitter. You may not realize it, but you could be the voice they need to hear to push them to their next milestone.

Think about it!