Diet
100 Days on Four Hour Body
May 25, 2011
Today marks 100 days of conscious eating. I can’t believe it.
I USED to be able to eat whatever, whenever and never have to worry about it. People used to be amazed at my appetite. Life was good, especially since I’m a total foodie … until I turned 28. I hurt my foot and my activity slowed down a lot. Then, I got wrapped up in drama and stress at work — and gave up on working out. For two years, I was an emotional eater, and had no energy or desire to cook. I ate to make myself happy, and I gained about 25 + pounds. UGH! Eventually I got let go from that job (as did 13+ others), but I still was wrapped up with the uncertainty of my next career move. Plus, we were engaged and I was really bugging out about finances.
When I look back, I kick myself for not being able to get in phenomenal shape for my wedding. Why couldn’t I do it then? But, I was so stressed out with being unemployed. There was always something in my head holding me back.
I finally had an “aha” moment and decided I needed to stop eating garbage. I realized life was always going to be challenging and needed to stop making excuses! I stopped accepting how unhappy I was with my body — and decided to do something — watch my diet.
Don’t Let Injuries Throw You Off the Wagon
March 30, 2011
Showing off my plyometric skillz.
The decision wasn’t easy, but the pain in my knee was/is still screaming SLOW DOWN. It started about six weeks ago when I originally began the 10-week training program for the race. I started Four Hour Body about the same time. I was only running three times a week and was actually excited to follow a schedule. In fact, I had printed out the Hal-Higdon’s beginner training program and then cut out each week’s schedule and glued it to the corresponding week in my planner. Hardcore.
I started to feel the pain in my knee in week two of training, then got completely side-lined when I hurt my ankle. I was teaching a two-hour boot camp class and ending up rolling my right ankle pretty bad. In my 10 years of teaching, I’ve never done that. I actually didn’t know what to do. Sit down? Get ice? I felt like I didn’t have really any choice, so I kept teaching and going all out. I couldn’t feel the pain because my adrenaline was pumping … until later that day.
Since the ankle incident, I rested a lot. Stopped running, rested more and iced my injuries. Then, without training and from three weeks of being immobile, I did a 5k with my cousins. My ankle and my left knee hurt. Another week of complete rest. Then, the Phillies 5k with hubby. OUCH.
Off to the doctor
Today I went to see a doctor and was totally caught off guard when I had x-rays done there and apparently now need an MRI to see if I have a tear in my meniscus. Doc and I actually think I got the injury two years ago doing a mud run. It’s been coming and going since then.
But, can I tell you — I can’t stand resting! I miss running and doing plyometrics and really want to be doing hill sprints and stuff?
Read the rest of this entry »
Being Healthy Can Make You RICH
March 22, 2011
I had dinner with a close girl friend last week. We tell each other EVERYTHING. We talk about fitness, healthy eating, relationships, work stress, holistic practices, etc. We like to explore the unconventional stuff.
She told me about her friend Courtney* that has relationship issues and is always disappointed, even when the situation is not “make-or-break.” For example, Courtney will get really bent out-of-shape and take it personally if her boyfriend, Mark* doesn’t call at the exact time he said he would. Courtney’s therapist suggested that she create a “checkbook” to record and monitor Mark’s positive and negative behavior. So, when Mark calls on time, she writes down +$50. When he takes her out to a nice dinner, +$75. When Mark is late, -$25. Courtney determines the worth/dollar amount for everything. And, the list is a way for her to determine what’s meaningful and focus on the positive things Mark does. Instead of flipping out, she’s programming herself to “check herself before she wrecks herself.”
I’m not endorsing or putting down this concept. I do feel bad for Courtney and her negative associations, but I’m happy that she’s working it out by getting help and using techniques that work. My thought though, is how to apply this idea to exercise and healthy living. Why not keep a checkbook of the things you do each day to get to your health and fitness goals? Assign the amount you’ve “earned” based on what you think you deserve.
My list would look like this:
Drank a full glass of water to start the day = $10
Packed my lunch(es) = $15
Avoided eating the coconut patties at work = + $15
Taught kickboxing at 30% exertion (injury) = + $20
Jogged for three miles and sprinted the last quarter mile = + $35
Ate consistently, four small meals, four hours apart = $30
Got to sleep before 10:30 pm = $40
With time, hopefully, your “bank” account will be exactly where you want it to be, you’ve “saved up” the “amount” you want and you have reprogrammed yoursef to have positive, happy associations with being healthy. Now, feel free to send me a real check in the mail! 
Please share your list! I’d love to see what you think things are worth.
Photo by jridgewayphotography.
*Names changed!
AllThingsGwen.com is my unofficial guide to health and happiness. It's a chronical of me finding my way.
I encourage you to think about “AllThings[YOUR NAME HERE]” and what’s really, truly important to you. Hope you enjoy my recipes, fitness tips, motivational posts and aha moments.
- !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Got my lucky Giants sweatshirt on. Bill's wearing his lucky Alfred Hitchcock tee, brown zip up and Merrell sweatband.
- Whenever I'm super sore, I make my husband undress me. It's not sexy by any means.
- Enjoying Dim Sum with my husband. Giants SuperBowl tradition!
- Enjoyed my Crossfit workout with friends! Totally shin planted on box jumps and may have punctured an ovary, but it's all good! :)
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