Perspiration Inspiration

My family and I have been watching The Biggest Loser on TV for all 13 seasons and every now and then there is a contestant that will really inspire me, like Abby, the mom who lost her entire family and still went on with her life - I don't know if I could have.  Then there was Ali who WON and she is just amazing, and Tara and now Olivia and her sister, Hannah.  I identified with these women.  They were determined and they worked sooo hard and they DID it.  

Every year I would watch it and usually did it eating freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.  How is that for balls, huh?  Oh yeah, I am sooo inspired to work out, wait, is that chocolate on my cheek, maybe tomorrow.  Well, my tomorrow finally came in my own version of the Biggest Loser and I made it work for me.  

Now, my results are NOTHING compared to those guys, but I have made some changes.  I feel great, am happy and don't look too shabby. (I'm so modest.)  Now, I have had a little setback, but I can get back up on that horse and keep going.   But the BEST part about making these changes is that when I share my journey, share my progress on how I am doing it, people are listening.  I don't have any great secrets, just common sense that I have put together through a LOT of research and determination.   THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE!  THIS WILL NOT COST YOU A FORTUNE!

This is what I do:

• I only eat WHOLE foods.  That means nothing processed or artificial.  Simple rule: If it doesn't come out of the ground, or if it doesn't have a mother, DON'T EAT IT!  
• If you can't pronounce it in the ingredient list, if whole foods aren't the first 5 ingredients, you don't need it. 
• NO High Fructose Corn Syrup
• NO Artificial Sweetners
• NO Refined Sugar or Flour - leave the "white stuff" alone
• Don't drink calories - water, water water.  Put lemon in it, put oranges, cucumber, but water.  Even those powdered additives are just that - additives - you don't need it.  - I do like Crystal Light and now they have MOCK Cocktail drinks - I am all over that.  
• Limit caffine intake.  I know.  I know.  I LOVE coffee.  I mean, I REALLY love it.  I would hook an IV up to my arm, but I treat myself to A coffee.  

• Once you start exercising regularly and getting enough sleep you will feel awake without it.  I PROMISE!
• SLEEP!  You need 7-8 hours of sleep a night.  It may be rough, but if you are moving and eating enough you will be tired, so go to bed.  DVR your favorite TV show, put on your PJs and snuggle up.  Your body will thank you for it.  Most nights I am comatose by 10.  
• Exercise.  Even 20-30 minutes walking every day will work, just MOVE your body.  You have the time.  I promise.  I like to walk early in the morning.  My sister hits the gym at night after her girls go to bed.  
• LEARN to snack!  This was hard for me.  I eat 5-6 times a day.  
• Be Prepared!  Nothing sucks worse than when your meeting goes from 1 hours to 2.5 and you are late for lunch and you are STARVING!  Then you will eat EVERYTHING that doesn't eat you first.  You'll be tempted to drive through the arches or worse - skip a meal.  
• Track your food.  I use My Fitness Pal.  It's a website and a phone app.  It's super user friendly.  USE IT every single day and EAT your CALORIES!  This is harder than you think!  

The bottom line is to take time for you! You are worth it.

Good luck.  The other thing I am trying to remember is HAVE A CHEAT MEAL, NOT A CHEAT DAY.  This will keep me from having a Cheat Week, Cheat Month, Cheat holiday!  LOL!

Much Love,
C