Today’s Reason to Workout: 2-27-12
Monday, February 27, 2012 – Because after seeing Angelina Jolie’s arms at the Oscars last night, you realize how important it is to be Fit and Healthy, not just Skinny!
For Da Locals Only – Fit Mommas of St. Peters
Apologies to anyone living outside of the St. Charles County or St. Louis areas, this will not so much pertain to you.
Are you in need of fitness motivation, and can be in the St. Peters area on weekday mornings?
Then I have two options for you – one free and one not free. Let’s start with the Free, because Free is always good.
While I no longer actively participate in Stroller Aerobics (you need kids who are still in strollers!), FitMommas of St. Peters still has Strobix three times a week – Monday, Wednesday & Friday at 9am. They’re either at Mid Rivers Mall or Spencer Creek Park, depending on the weather. Jennifer P. and Amy H. seem to be doing the leading these days, so if you have young ones in a stroller and are in need of a good workout, then give this awesome group a try! Kristina and I started Fit Mommas over five years ago, and my heart will always be with it! We also have monthly trail hikes, a running club and we love Piloga on Monday nights at Grace Church on Mexico.
If, however, like me, your kids have outgrown the stroller….you can find me and a few other Fit Mommas at the St. Peters Club Fitness location on most Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Typically, it’s Gina, Kari and me – we don’t have any set schedule, and we all kinda do our own thing. You can expect us between 9:15 and 9:45, and we’re usually there at least an hour.
Right now, I’ve just begun a Couch-to-5K training program, Get Running on my iPhone, so I start off on the treadmill. I then hit the free weights area with all the muscle heads, alternating arm and leg workouts. And on Friday, we try to get there on time for an additional 9:15am abs class, which is awesome!
If you have a Club Fitness membership, why don’t you join us? Gina loves the elliptical, Kari does all of it, and I have my set routine, so there’s something for everyone. And even if you don’t know the three of us, I’ve seen MOPS friends and moms from preschool, so you never know who you might run into!
And if you’ve been considering a gym membership, and have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. I’m not getting anything for referring you, and will happily – and honestly! – answer any questions you have.
Have you ever worked out in a gym?
I’ve had a few gym memberships in my lifetime, and have had a host of reasons why I quit. Too much money, moved away from the location, kid freaked out the entire time in the daycare…
Do you prefer working out at home or at a gym?
I can work out in either setting, but I definitely get better results in the gym. I think that’s because there are fewer distractions, I’m there for one thing and I get it done. At home, the kids may need something, or I remember about the load of laundry I started two days ago, or something…
If I promised to show you the ropes of the free weights area, would you join me?
Say yes. I promise, it’s not scary at all.
Today’s Reason to Workout: 2-24-12
Friday, February 24, 2012 – Because you have friends at the gym that miss you when you aren’t there.
What’s for Snack? Guac & Celery
The other day, I listed out all the things I am NOT eating, so I’m sure everyone’s wondering what the heck I do eat.
Well, let me assure everyone that I am not sitting around eating cardboard. Cardboard’s no good, too starchy. 😉
Today, for instance, I am indulging in my favorite snack….veggies and homemade guacamole. Almost any veggie will do (no carrots or red bell peppers for me right now.) But I am partial to celery. Maybe not your first thought, but it’s got a great crunch, and I kinda love the texture combo.
And let’s be honest, the celery is simply a vehicle for the guac. This is a simple guac, I whip it up in a matter of minutes…
*Raw garlic is amazingly good for you, especially those of us fighting yeast. I get it anyway I can!
Sometimes my guac turns out great, sometimes, like today, I get a little goofy with the cumin and burn my tongue. Luckily I have the fantastically neutral (and juicy!) celery to balance it.
But it’s my new fave and proof that I’m still eating real food.
What’s your favorite good-for-you snack?
Do you believe that avocados are God’s way of saying “I love you, and want you to be happy”?
Or is that just me?
Today’s Reason to Workout: 2-23-12
Thursday, February 23, 2012 – Because the gloom and doom of winter will take you over if you don’t get some endorphins pumpin’. Pump It!
How I Quit Sugar, and Lost 17 Pounds in 7 Weeks
Well, that’s a headline for ya, ain’t it?
And, my dear, long-lost FitMommas, it is in fact the truth. I took quite a hiatus from blogging, and dove head first into a medically-necessary health endeavor a mere month and a half ago. It will take me multiple posts to bring everyone up to speed, and while I should have posted as I went along, I needed the mental break from blogging regularly so that I could wrap my head around my sugar-free journey.
So first let me remind you about the dermatologist appointment I had back in October. Remember this post? I was so frustrated with my doctor for refusing to acknowledge that any of my skin issues (that I’ve had for 10+ years) could be treated through diet. That visit was the straw that broke the camels back. In 10+ years, I’ve had four doctors tell me that I have a yeast problem, and then write me a steroid prescription to treat it. I’d had it.
I spent December researching my butt off. I became New BFFs with the owner of our local health foods store, Nutrition Stop. (No Whole Foods in these parts.) I read books from the library, I soaked up information from no less than 10 different websites. Turns out my Yeast problem is contributing to about a million and one different issues I have going on – my skin issues, my digestive issues, my joint and hip pain, brain fog, fatigue, irritability. And here I thought I was just going crazy. And Sugar was at the root of it all. I slowly altered my diet through the month, and geared up for the Big Push.
On Tuesday, January 2 (exactly seven weeks ago today!), I began an Anti-Candida aka a Yeast-Free Diet. What that means is:
- I cut out Sugar. Completely. In All Forms you can conceive of. (OK, I can have Stevia, but let’s be honest. It takes like poo.)
- As fruit is naturally high in sugar, that means No Fruit. Yeah. I know.
- I cut out all gluten. Only limited grains, like Quinoa, Buckwheat, Gluten-Free Steel Cut Oats, and (my guilty pleasure) all natural corn chips.
- No Dairy, as it’s also naturally higher in sugar.
- And I guess it goes without saying, no condiments, no pre-packaged food, no funky stuff, no words I can’t pronounce.
- Oh, and No Alcohol or Caffeine.
Are you still with me? Have I gone off the deep end? Is it possible I am crazy?
Well, I’m still alive, I can tell you that. And many of my symptoms have improved so much, I can only wonder why I didn’t do this sooner. This is similar to an anti-inflammatory diet, so my arthritis and bursitis symptoms are completely gone. Zilch. Nada! (This is also a similar diet that is recommended for those on the Autistic Spectrum, as well as a myriad of other health issues.)
And did I mention the 17 pound weight loss? I had to hit Goodwill today and buy myself a new wardrobe, because nothing I own fits me anymore. I’m also working out three days a week – hard – so that’s helping as well. I can’t say how awesome I feel to be lighter, I feel like I can float. But…
I would never, ever, ever tell someone to go on this diet to lose weight. Because this has been the single hardest thing I’ve ever done. (Over the long haul, that is. Birthing babies sunny-side up with no drugs is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.) I did not enter into this lightly, and it has been a physical and an emotional struggle. There isn’t a lot support from family and friends, I would best describe it as tolerance. If you’re used to finding comfort in a bowl of ice cream, or a side of rich mashed potatoes or in a margarita with friends, you’re out of luck.
There’s no turning to food for comfort, unless you find chicken with a side of broccoli comforting. (Because I eat a freakish amount of chicken and broccoli right now.) I’ve broken down in tears many times. And had to sit next to my husband as he eats my favorite bowl of ice cream. As my book club downs beers and carb-laden foods. As my MOPS group eats pastries for breakfast. This part is actually getting easier, as my tastebuds are changing and the health benefits reveal themselves more. But it’s not for the faint of heart. Or the easily swayed.
When I began, I knew that there would be a point when I could gradually add foods back in. The elimination of entire food groups is not forever. I’m killing the yeast overgrowth in my body, and once I have it under control, I can reintroduce my favorite foods…and see how I feel. Some things I may never eat again. Some things should be just fine. Unfortunately, I’ve had some relapses – usually because I’ve eaten something I didn’t prepare myself and there was hidden sugar – and I realize that this journey is not going to be a quick month or two endeavor. In all honestly, I’m looking at a good six months total (could be longer, but I remain confident.)
In the meantime, I have a ton more to post about this journey. I will post about having an overgrowth of yeast and why sugar my very well be the Devil’s spawn. I’ll post some of my favorite meals and snacks – contrary to popular belief, there is culinary life after sugar! It’s just different. I’ll write about some of the emotional struggles that I’ve had and continue to have. And since I apparently have a ways yet to go on this journey, you’ll be along for the ride as I reintroduce foods and experience the inevitable set backs.
As with anything I write, I welcome any questions, about anything at all. This has been hard, but if I help anyone out with any ongoing issues, then it’s been worth it. Just today, while at Goodwill, I ran into my husband’s cousin’s wife. She noted how I looked, and I mentioned the weight loss, the cutting out sugar, the very basic reasons why. As I went to the dressing room, another woman came up to me and said she’d over heard our conversation. In a matter of 10 minutes, I’d met someone who, it seems, may be struggling with the very issues that I’ve been struggling with. I gave her my information and I hope she follows up with me. There’s so much comfort in knowing that you’re not alone in the world.
Today’s Reason to Workout: 1-9-12
Monday, January 9, 2012 – Because it’s a cold Monday morning in January. I mean, somethin’s gotta cheer you up!
Today’s Reason to Workout: 1-6-12
Friday, January 6, 2012 – Because it’s too soon to give up on your new found desire to workout. Get up, and do it this morning! 
Today’s Reason to Workout
Monday, January 2, 2012 – Because it’s the first Monday of the year, and all the cool kids are doin’ it.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to all of my FitMommas readers. You are all so precious to me and I hope you are all finding yourself in a great place this morning.
If you are not, if you are struggling with where your life is right at this moment, then my wish for you today is that you find the moments you need to focus on where you truly want to be.
What do YOU want from your life?
How would your daily life look like?
What does Being Fit mean to you?
What changes can you make Today to get there?
Don’t make Resolutions, make small and/or big changes everyday to help you get there.
Write it out and share them with someone you trust…and won’t judge. If you don’t have a person like that in your life, then share them with me.
And then do it. Quit telling yourself that you can’t. Because you can.
HUGS going out to all of you today and know that you are loved. I wish you nothing but the best.
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Being Fit means my body and my mind are in tune with each other. I am calm, relaxed and my body feels energized and capable to take on whatever life throws at me.
