Not a Size 2

What do you mean I can't eat as much as I want!

2011-07-13T09:42:00.000-05:00

So last year when I started to train for my first marathon I was also trying to loose weight....of course! Aren't we all. Well, all it took was one of the trainers we worked out with to tell me that I needed to NOT diet and make sure I ate carbs in the evening, if I was running in the morning. He said a lot more but all I heard was no more dieting and eat carbs! =) Needless to say I took advantage of this and didn't really loose any weight. Even though I was running any where from 30-40 miles a week, I pretty much staying the same size. No bueno!

This year, I am really trying to learn more about proper running nutrition. What do I need to eat. When should I eat it. And, how much do I really need. Runners World is always a great source, so I am starting there and hopefully it will lead me to other articles, books, and forums regarding diet.
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-242-304-310-7771-0,00.html

My Legs are Jello

2011-07-13T09:31:00.001-05:00

I guess I am just tired from a long weekend back home with the hubs and the 6-7 hour car ride home....but my legs are jello today. I ran 3 miles in the am and then did my normal cycle class and yoga class after work. I almost didn't make thru yoga. I was so worn out. By bedtime last night I could feel the jello coming. I totally did not get up to run this morning, because I was so worn out and walking around this morning I hardly have any legs under me. Hopefully, by this afternoon my legs will be okay to run 5m.

Cooking with Stevia

2011-07-12T00:05:00.000-05:00

I've been using stevia for a couple of years now but very minimally. I might put it into tea or oatmeal and I've also tried it a a few simple recipes like banana bread and oatmeal protein bars. Other then that, I've not really tried very hard to use it as a substitute.

I made a fresh batch of banana bread tonight and replaced the the sugar with stevia. I just sampled it.....not bad. It does taste a little different but Stevia itself has a sweet but not sugar sweet taste to it. It's hard to explain. I guess it's no different then the difference in taste when you use artificial sweetener.

http://www.steviainfo.com/?page=cooking_tips

I found this web-site about substituting stevia in recipes. I'm thinking I might try a substitution a month....probably the same recipe several times in one month until I get it to the point the Hubs and I like. I'll share my results!

Just me, my running shoes and the road....and the.......

2011-07-08T11:30:00.002-05:00

Well....not just me but the deer, skunks, snakes, garbage trucks, etc............ Don't get me wrong. It's awesome to get up before dawn and running in the relative quite. It just can be a bit nerve racking to run up on a deer, inhale the odor of skunk, have to constantly be on the look out for snakes, and have those big trucks whiz by you.

First 8 mile run of the season......

2011-07-08T07:28:00.002-05:00

My marathon training season started June 27th without a lot of fan fair. I actually didn't have a good first week, as it is now July 7th and I am just now finishing my week one....boo. That's what happens when you start the week of a holiday. The July 4th holiday weekend kinda got in the way. No biggie though. I just enjoyed my weekend with the hubs and friends and picked back up this week. So, rather then running my first 8 miles on Saturday, I ran in on Thursday morning before work. It felt great to get that one under my belt!

June 6th - Hit the road running

2011-06-07T07:31:00.000-05:00

Monday's are always great. You wake up, hopefully, refreshed and ready to hit the road running. I literally did just that. I got up at 5 and was out jogging by 5:30 am. I had a short 3 m jog scheduled then a Kettle Bell cardio workout....more on that later. Finished up both by 6:30, felt great and burned an estimated 450-500 calories....cool. After work I went to cycle and burned another 350ish calories.

I am shocked I don't feel miserable tonight. Sometimes I get wicked headaches when I push to hard, so I purposely tried not to over do it today....easier said then done. I guess I will see how I feel tomorrow. I hope I'm not too sore or it is going to make Tuesday's workout torture.

Time to get serious again......

2011-06-06T06:56:00.001-05:00

So I'm officially signed up....again....for the San Antonio Rock n Roll Marathon. The race is in November, but training is going to start in a couple of weeks. I guess it's time to get serious again. My husband will be the first to agree with me that I have kind of half ass'd my training this Winter and Spring. I did just enough to keep me in moderate shape. With three weeks until my training begins, I have to get focused and serious about my workouts and diet.

Here is to day 1 - 5am wake up call. IT only gets earlier from here!

Finally got my 4 mile run in

2011-04-26T21:33:00.000-05:00

I was supposed to run this on Saturday but spending time with family and baking kinda got in the way. I'm a few days behind, but I got it done. Four miles and a strong head wind!

Caffeine Addiction.....really?

2011-04-22T13:36:00.000-05:00

Trying to kick this caffeine habit again.....but oh it's so hard.

I say habit, but I am really addicted. I can "kick" it for a while but it always comes back. I guess I really never looked at it as an addiction....not until I read an article about it in some magazine....then googled Caffeine Addiction.

There are some symptoms of caffeine addiction to watch out for. First and foremost, do you need caffeine to survive? In other words, do you have to consume caffeine in order to get through the day? If so, you may have a problem. Additionally, if you experience headaches, irritability, and sleepiness when you attempt to cut out the consumption of caffeine, you may be addicted.
http://www.mycaffeineaddiction.com/caffeine-addiction/

Yeah...that's me!

Last year, I managed to cut it out almost all together when I started marathon training, but then I hurt my leg. I guess I started drinking it again for no good reason other then I wasn't running anymore. The problem is that on those days when work got hard, my single can a day started turning into 2-4 cans. That is scary, because there was a time, not so long ago, where I was drinking more then a 2 liters worth a day.

Hadn't thought about it much until I realized that yesterday I drank about 4 cans of sodas and only about 32 oz of water......no bueno and no excuse!

10K Training

2011-04-21T20:32:00.000-05:00

Since I almost through the week, I guess I can officially say I am in 10K training again. I jumped the gun and announced that I was last week, but I didn't finish the week out successfully. I restarted week 1 this week and feel good about how things are going.

Okay, so it's official....for real! I'm in 10K training!

I'm finally healthy......I think!?!

2011-04-20T07:00:00.001-05:00

After starting and stopping a couple of times this year, I think I am finally healthy. To recap, back in November I hurt my left leg pretty bad and had to drop out of the San Antonio Marathon. I tied to start walking in early January then slowly started progressing to jogging.

I guess I was just too eager to get out running again. I never re-lapsed back to the point where my leg was so bad I couldn't walk, but I just knew something wasn't right. I stopped running again in early February, took about 4 more weeks off and then started slowing working up to a 3 mile jog.

I'm happy to say, I'm feeling great. Next up, 10K training.

Week Three: 20 degrees and a wind chill of ........

2011-02-04T08:36:00.000-06:00

This week started great. I went out for a jog after work Monday. It was a beautiful 70 degrees around the River Ridge loop. The wind was kicking, as the the "Winter Storm" was starting to blow in.

I went out on Monday, even though I originally planned to go to the gym to cross train. I knew that this was probably going to be the only nice weather day, so I took advantage of it. Thank goodness I did. As we all know, the temp dropped to below freezing and the wind were swirling as high as hurricane force. Uh....no thank you!

Look, I'm not afraid of a little weather. I love running in a little rain or even a little tail wind but.....20 degree with a wind chill of ZERO....not a chance. Never mind that I don't have the proper clothing to go out an run in this weather, but my Texas breed body just isn't used to this kind of weather.

The temp is supposed to jump back to normal Saturday, so 'till then........

Week Two: Uh-oh....my shin is throbbing.

2011-01-25T07:43:00.000-06:00

So I woke up late....no doubt and now I have to deal with this. Standing in the shower, getting ready for work, I just noticed that my left shin is throbbing. Did I start too soon? Is it just sore. Ugh. Only time will tell.

'Till Tomorrow ~

Week Two: OMG....It's too early

2011-01-24T23:26:00.000-06:00

Ten after 5am came WAY too early this morning. Yeah....that's why I feel back asleep, waking up frantically at 5:40....."oh S*@t!". I'm late. I wanted to get started no later then 5:30. I finally managed to start my morning run at 6:10am. Man, almost screwed up on the first day. At least I didn't just say..."F" it and go back to bed. I got up and got it done. Albeit late, but still got it done.

2 mile walk at 1.5 mile run complete followed by the gym, for 1.5 hours, after work for....Muscle endurance training. Hang cleans are going to be the death of me. I'm already sore. Let see how easily I get up tomorrow morning...laff!

The First Mile - Running is Cheaper then Therapy!

2011-01-23T16:35:00.000-06:00

So how are you supposed to stay focused when you are physically and mentally exhausted? I had such a hard work week and because I was so tired and busy, I missed running Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Not off to a good start.

Well, I finally made it for a jog/ workout today and was thinking about this the whole time. It is already so hard to balance work and personal life. Now I want to focus on running again! How did I focus on this before. Then it hit me...."oh yeah, I was getting up at 4am several times a week to get my runs in.

But wait a minute. Getting up wasn't the focus. That was the dedication to the focus. What/ where was the real focus coming from? Then another "Ah-Ha!" moment. My self adopted mantra popped in my head.

"Running is Cheaper then Therapy...." That's what kept me going. It's what was keeping me sane. It was/ is the focus on the activity that keeps the balance between work and life. It is MY personal alone time. The ME time I have always loved. I guess I just kinda lost my focus for a little while. It's good to have it back.

The First Mile - Mental Focus

2011-01-19T23:30:00.004-06:00

Some people might think that finishing the last mile is the hardest part. I say starting the first is harder.

This is my first week back to running after a leg injury. I thought not running for the past 11 weeks was going to be the death of me. Getting started again is worse. 11 Weeks is long enough to loose my endurance, strength, and even my focus, but it's not long enough for my mind to forget that I can and should be able to run 10+....no problem. Heck I use to consider an 8 mile run an easy day!

I've actually been jogging for the last two weeks, but I was resigned to only running 5 minutes on, 5 minutes off for 20-30 minutes...then followed by just walking. I decided that this was the week to get back in the game, but I have to start slow, so I don't re injure myself.

Yeah, my body is hurting and I am very apprehensive because of the injury, but getting past this metal block is my real struggle. It's hard not to be discouraged by only being able to run a paltry 1 mile. Don't get me wrong. I am grateful for being healthy. I just know I have more in me and want to push hard. Doing is counter-productive though.

'Till Tomorrow ~

The First Mile

2011-01-19T22:52:00.001-06:00

So.....it's been 11 weeks since I injured my leg. I actually only thought it had been 8-9 weeks, but just checked the calendar. Wow...the days sneaked by.

I started training for my first Marathon, this summer, but on November 2nd, 12 days before the marathon, I went out for an easy 2 mile jog on a grass track, hit a divot and twisted my ankle which caused a chain reaction of problems in my left calf, shin, etc. I was diagnosed with a Stress Reaction on my left tibia and massive soft tissue damage in both my calf and along the tibia/ shin line. One walking boot (3 weeks) and several sessions of Airossti Therapy later and I am "healed".

On Monday I ran my first mile of the year. Feels good to be back.

New Training Mission

2010-05-21T16:50:00.001-05:00

So it seems like I am always trying something new..... New diet, new workout program, etc... I guess it is about time I came full circle. I have a new training mission but it is really an old passion. Running!

Okay, okay, so maybe I don't really run. I'm more of a jogger with little spurts of energy, but none the less I totally love it. I haven't really focused on running in a very, very long time, but something/ everything seemed to "click" this Spring enabling me to get back into it.

I first started running....gosh, as early as 8-9 years old. Not exactly sure when, but I remember running one of my first "big" road race with my parents and Cousin when I was nine. It was the Rey Feo/ San Antonio Fiesta 10k. I was so proud of myself....I kept a 9 minute mile pace for the whole race. Oh....and the Capital 10k in Austin. My father and I even were pictured in the paper....along with a ton of other people....but you could see us! But, even before that, some of my fondest childhood memories are of my parents at local road race events....me just tagging along. It was so exciting to watch all the adults race off the starting line....at the sound of the gun. Even more fun was the after race snacks and awards.

My parents were part of the San Marcos Runners Club for a while when I was a kid, and my Dad was an avid runner. He ran several marathons, and as I mentioned before, both my parents race a lot of local road races. It always seemed like we running. We'll I guess for my Dad it was training. For me it was just fun.....for my Mom - a chore..heehee. Especially the weekend runs/ walks we'd take. We'd start at our house in the Westover part of San Marcos, trek all the way down to "town" then trek it back thru what is now west campus at Texas State, back to our house. At that age I didn't realize how important that time was. Major family time.... and the parents keeping fit.

I continued to run competitively thru high school. You know in track and cross country, but I am the first to admit...I was SLOW! I couldn't win a race to save my life. I also wasn't focused, but hey....I always had fun. My second to third year of college was probably the last time I really ran/ trained. It was about that time I started having major back problems. One day while running grass drills in soccer practice I even lost the feeling in both my legs. Presumably from a pinched nerve. In actuality, I have a herniated disk in my lover lumbar and tons of fascia damage in my lower glutes and upper hamstrings...but I'll save all the back problems for another time. Soon after the back problems started, I also met my eventual husband, Stephen.....so you can image what slowly started happening. Less time running - more time hanging out with him...until my running days were all but over.

Fast forward to my 30's....yep...that's about a 10-12 year gap. In 2009, I had a friend tell me she was going to run the Capital 10k. I asked if could join her and we were off. The only problem was that physically and mentally I was not really ready to push my body to run. I did train and finish the race, but once it was over I was done. That experience however, stuck with me and as the 2010 Capital 10K rolled around, I decided I was going to go for it again....and the training began!

Wouldn't you know it, though.....while out with friends, in these really sweet Michael Kors platform sandals I twisted my ankle......actually major bruising and swelling. No Cap 10K race for me. This accident didn't discourage me though. It actually gave me more resolve to rest and recover then start a smart, but aggressive training program.

I am now recovered from my ankle injury and am on my forth week of the new training program. I've never felt better, mentally, and physically. I am exhausted by the end of the day, yes. It's hard getting up before 5 am just to get my runs in, but it has been so worth it. I am currently running between 2 and 4 miles three times a week and am slowly working up to my 10k pace. I hope to find one to run in mid June.

My long term goals....well - some might say they are lofty distance goals, but I plan to take the training slow and steady...with the intent of reaching my goal distance in the fall. I'll keep you posted (hopefully weekly) on my progress!

Success on the Isagenix 9 Day Cleanse

2010-01-31T18:57:00.001-06:00

So the million dollar question answered....for me anyway! Did the Cleanse work. Yes. I did not loose a lot of weight...3 lbs, but I wasn't over weight to begin with. I did, however, loose about an inch off my waist. To me...SUCCESS!

At the beginning of the cleanse, you are supposed to take several different measurements...typical ones, your neck, chest, waist, abdomen, buttocks, thighs, etc... I am going to spare you....well, and me, of those measurements, but every one of my measurements dropped between a quarter of an inch to 1 1/4 inch.

I finished the Cleanse on January 5th. It's been three weeks since I finished and I have not increased back to my starting size. I think the key to not "blowing back up" is the fact that I've stayed on pretty much the same type of diet as my Shake days. I even had to buy new jeans! I bought two new pair....the first new jeans I've bought in years....very exciting.

This Cleanse wasn't exactly easy , but by no means was it impossible. And, when I say it wasn't easy, it wasn't because the product itself wasn't straight forward. Cleansing, in and of itself, is just a hard process! Could I have done it without all the Isagenix brand product ~ sure! But, it truly made my experience easier. Remember, I tried doing the my own version of a cleanse during the month of December.

Isagenix is not some sort of miracle weight-loss product. It is on the expensive side, and it does take focus to stay on track. I knew all this going into it, but I still found the product effective. Whether you are trying to live a healthy lifestyle, loose weight, loose inches, or all of the above, I believe anything that makes the process a little easier is worth it. I know I already spend so much time focusing on my career, family, friends....life in general, that sometimes, it's hard to stay on track physically. I can use all the help I can get.

The best thing I can say about this product is that they make it easy for you. You buy the system and you are sent the products. You are also sent a step by step guide on what to do, what to eat (generalized) and when to eat it. Once you've experienced a Cleanse System or feel comfortable enough, you can purchase products al-a carte and create your own "system". In all honesty, you can create your own from the start. Either way, my assessment of Isagenix is that their 9 Day Cleanse worked for me. It was a easy, but it wasn't cheap!

My Day 8-9 on the Isagenix Cleanse

2010-01-31T18:14:00.000-06:00

My last two days....thank goodness!

Day 8 was okay. I stuck to the plan, 4- 4 oz servings of the Cleanse for Life Juice, Snacks! and a few nuts and other fruits. Day 9 (last day), well that was another story.

I think my previous Cleanse days worked so well because I had a lot of distractions. I was at work all day then would go straight to the gym and not get home until close to 8pm. By day 9, I was grouchy and hungry. I made it until about noon but then finally gave up (so to speak). I made a can of Healthy Choice soup and had a Coke Zero. It was the worst thing I could have eaten, but needless to say, I didn't stick to the plan.

My Day 4-7 on the Isagenix Cleanse

2010-01-19T15:17:00.000-06:00

Okay....so i am going to wrap these 4 days into one post because the plan is the same for all 4 days....meal replacement two times a day and a healthy meal.

I took some liberty with these four days (heehee)....I had to! Day four was New Years Eve, Day five was New Years day...then the weekend. Talk about needing some will power.

So on Day 4, I knew my husband was taking me out for an awesome dinner at Bordeaux in Kyle. I made two shakes to drink during the day, while at work. I ate one small popcorn snack in the early afternoon....then off to dinner. I figured I'd be as "good" as possible during the day so I could splurge at night. Okay....so I started out great but once I got to the restaurant, all bets were off! I started with an awesome Mexican Martini and a appetizer....Steamed Chilean Blue Mussels in a White Wine sauce and french bread. Yeah...I know my mouth is watering again! I was supposed to share with Stephen but I am pretty sure I ate 3/4 of the app! My cocktail and appetizer alone were probably more calories then I should have had for the entire day...but it was New Years Eve! I thought I'd try to go a little healthy for my main course - Salmon.....WRONG. Oh, I ordered Salmon, but it was Salmon Bearnaise with sauteed blue crab...then smothered with the Bearnaise sauce. Perfection. Oh....did I mention the second cocktail!

New Years Day wasn't too bad, but I definitely went over the recommended calorie limit for the day. I let the husband sleep in, so instead of a typical breakfast, I should have had a shake. That didn't happen. I ate dry cherrios and an apple instead. Once Stephen got up, we were off to Wimberly for work and ate lunch at a cute dinner. I tried to stay "good" by having a grilled chicken southwest salad salad. Oh, but my torturous husband decided he need a slice of Rhubarb pie...my favorite. When he offered a bite, I said "no". His retort was...."one bite won't kill you"...and yes, I caved! For dinner, I ordered him a pizza....again torture, but I managed to only eat one bite and stuck to my salad (FYI: the plan suggests another meal replacement but I needed something to munch on....not drink).

Saturday...Day 6...hummm, UFC night. I decided I better be "good" all day again. I went to the gym, had a shake, later ate a salad, snacked on some nuts, an apple, and some popcorn....then off to Bikinis for UFC. I ordered the healthiest thing on the menu....but that doesn't mean much in a place like Bikini's! I has the Chicken Taco's with a cilantro white rice side. Semi healthy, except for the flour tortillas, cheese that I forgot to hold, and the oil I could see in the rice...oh, well....it was better then the dessert I shared with my husband! =0. I didn't drink my calories in alcohol this night. I stuck to diet coke....okay, caffeine isn't great either, but.....

Sunday....Day 7...This 9 Day cleanse/ meal replacement thing is started to wear on me. I think it is just that I had no distractions...like work. I was home 4 days and was bored. Anyway, I didn't have one meal replacement shake today! I ate a lot of small healthy meals with a total calorie intake of about 1500. A little higher then recommended, but still not horrible.

To sum up my four day Shake days....not on point! I cheated A LOT, but I wasn't absolutely horrible. Two more days to go.

My Day 3 on the Isagenix Cleanse

2009-12-31T11:00:00.031-06:00

Ahhh....I get to eat today.

You have no idea how happy I am! Not only did I make it thru the first two days of the cleanse, but I actually get to have solid food today!

The first thing I wanted to do when I got up was eat a breakfast sandwich! I was good though. I went thru my normal morning routine and then made a shake for the road. I sipped on it all morning, took my Natural Accelerator, and ate two of my Benefiber tablets. Lunch couldn't get here quick enough.

I didn't make it to lunch, but I was prepared! I packed a Sun-dried Tomato Veggie Burger Patty (100 calories) and Flat Bread Bun (100 Calories). That was enough to get me thru until I could run out to take care of my errands and pick up a salad from Jason's Deli.

Oh.....and yes....I had already decided from the previous night I was going to make a big, giant Salad Bar to Go salad from Jason's as my sensible meal for the day. I filled my salad with tons lettuce, spinach , and veggies and 4 eggs (ate the whites only....needed some protein), and then topped it off with a little of their nut mix. I brought my own lemon from home to use as dressing and added just a little bit of low fat ranch. I snacked on this all afternoon. It was awesome!

Went to the Cycle at 5:30 for a 45 minute class. I usually do Kickboxing afterward, but I sooooo did not have the energy! I was cramping a little bit again, too. Still can't get enough water. I am starting to feel like a fish!

After the gym, had to run to the grocery store to stock up on eggs, lettuce, veggies, etc..... I'd decide rather then cook my husband dinner, I'd pick up one of those Rotisserie Chickens. Easy enough!...bad choice. They SMELL SO AWESOME! It was torture not to be able to eat any! I actually stole a small piece, but for the most part was good. I kept myself busy by cleaning, doing laundry, etc... and drank my second shake of the day.

Of....I don't think I've mentioned this yet....I am down almost 5 pounds now.

Day 3 thru 7 - Isagenix 9 Day Cleanse

2009-12-31T10:15:00.001-06:00

Once you've completed the first 2 Cleanse days, the Isagenix 9 Day Cleanse program moves you to what they call shake days....for 5 days. This is pretty easy.....

On Shake Days......

Drink two servings of IsaLean Shakes as a meal replacement
Eat one sensible meal of 400-600 calories.

Also, just like of Cleanse Days, this is what should be done everyday.....

Take 1-2 Natural Accelerator capsules to jump-start your metabolism
Drink at least 8 -10 glasses of water
Drink 1-2 oz of Ionix Supreme to boost energy and help relieve stress (not included in the pack)
Take 1-2 capsules of IsaFlush to promote regulatrity (not included in the pack)
Enjoy 1-4 IsaDelight Chocolates daily to help your mood, energy and cravings (not included in pack)
Exercise at least 20 minutes

No problem! You actually get to EAT today! =) Oh, you actually get to eat for 5 straight days on the cleanse.

My Day 2 on the Isagenix Cleanse

2009-12-31T09:48:00.000-06:00

Well, I didn't wake up hungry....that's a good start!

My routine was pretty much the same as Monday (day 1) of the Cleanse. I ate 6 of the Snacks! and four 4 oz servings of the Cleanse for Life juice. This time I brought myself roma tomato slices to snack on. Those didn't make it past lunch.....opps.

My distraction today was a haircut, but once I got back to work, it was torture. Again with all the co-workers bringing their leftover Christmas snacks!....ugh! I was running around the building looking for unsalted nuts, something. I had to take several "breaks" to distract myself from being hungry. Oh, and it seems I couldn't drink enough water! Started feeling a little dehydrated.

I went the gym and still managed a 20 minute warm up on the stairs and then an hour of yoga. Yoga was interesting today because I focused on moving quickly from postion to postion....flowing. I already have high blood pressure, so the quick movement (head moving above and below my heart quickly) typically causes a little bit of dizziness. Today's dizziness was twice as bad. I have to assume it's because I am weak from not eating. I got thru the class but I started cramping a little too. Again, I can't get enough water!

I was home by 7:45 tonight, which gave me a lot of time to think about food....ugh! I ate a big plate of salad mix with lemon juice (a tip from there testimonials). I also ate a couple of almonds and walnuts and then finally saved my last serving of Juice for last....about 10pm. My fussiness tonight was even worse. I even sleep on the couch because I was just tossing, turning, and feeling sorry for myself.

My Day 1 on the Isagenix Cleanse

2009-12-29T11:17:00.002-06:00

So here is how it went....

I woke up hungry today....ugh! Still motivated to start though.

I started by taking two Snacks! at about 8:15 am and drank a pint of water before leaving for work. At about 9am (already at work), I drank my first 4 ounces of the Cleanse for Life Juice. Wasn't horrible. It definitely has an interesting taste, but drinkable. Oh...I also took one of the Natural Accelerators.

Between 9 ish and 11:30 ish, I drank one of my Fiber Power InstaSicks. These aren't part of the Isagenix 9 Day Cleanse Pack, but I like them. More on those in another post. Was feeling a little hungry during this time, but nothing I couldn't manage

At about 11:30, I ate another Snack! Decide not to eat two this time, because it's recommended to only have 6 Snacks! a day. I need to spread them out. At some point between 11:30 and 12:30 I drank my next 4 ounces of Cleanse for Life and drank another bottle of water. I refilled my water bottle an went to run errands on my lunch break.

Running errands was a nice distraction. I was starting to focus on the fact that I hadn't eaten....starting to get hungry. Still nothing I cannot live with. Damn my co-workers for bringing in all their leftover snacks and treats from Christmas. Someone brought leftover mini quiche!.....will-power, please!!!!! Off to drink another InstaStick....this time just 1/2.

At about 4:00 I ate another Snacks! and a Natural Accelerator....and about 30 minutes later drank my 3rd 4ounce portion of the Cleanse for Life Juice. Just before going into my Cycle class at 5:30, I ate my 5th Snacks!. Just trying to make sure I don't die from hungry in class! =)

I actually made it thru almost two hours of workouts.....45 minutes of cycle and an hour of Power Pump (Muscle Endurance class). I powered thru cycle at normal tentions and speed, but I had to drop my weight significantly in Power Pump. None-the-less, made it thru and was actually not that hungry during or immediately afterward. I couldn't make the next class...Zumba. I didn't have enough energy, but considering I hadn't eaten anything...oh well. Oh, I drank a bottle of water while at the gym and drank another one on the way home.

I got home about 7:30 and ate two of my Benefiber tablets.....again not on the diet, but something I will continue doing...and drank another bottle of water. After taking the dogs for a walk and showering up after the gym, I took advantage of the the raw veggie snack suggestion. By this point I found myself thinking about anything and everything food, so I ate two sliced roma tomatos.

At about 9:30 ish, I ate my last Snacks! and then drank my last 4 ounce serving of Cleanse for Life. I thought if I saved these for the very last it would help tie my over until bed time.....wrong. Even though I drank another bottle of water and some hot herbal tea, I was so miserable. Okay, I wasn't really hungry, just not satisfied! I am just so used to hot, seasoned foods. I started craving salt! It didn't help that I was up late watching Monday Night Football. I finally gave in and ate some nuts - two Walnuts, two acrons, and some other kind of nut.....not sure what it was. Yeah, I know....that was still allowed, but I somehow felt defeated.

I went to bed fussy. Stephen thought it was funny, but I fell asleep pretty quickly so that helped!

Day 1 & 2 Plan - Isagenix 9 Day Cleanse

2009-12-29T10:20:00.002-06:00

Monday was my first offical day on the 9 Day Cleanse. Isagenix recommends doing at least two pre-cleanse days if you've never done a cleanse before. I didn't do it, though. I typically eat pretty healthy and light and, while I've never done Isagenix, I've cleansed before.

Okay so this is what Cleanse Day 1 & 2 consists of.....

Take 4 oz of Cleanse for Life four times daily followed by 8 oz of water
To help prevent cravings, eat a couple of raw, organic, almonds, cherry tomatos, or carrots, etc every two hours

In addition to the cleanse product, this is what should be done everyday.....

Take 1-2 Natural Accelerator capsules to jump-start your metabolism
Drink at least 8 -10 glasses of water
Drink 1-2 oz of Ionix Supreme to boost energy and help relieve stress (not included in the pack)
Take 1-2 capsules of IsaFlush to promote regulatrity (not included in the pack)
Enjoy 1-4 IsaDelight Chocolates daily to help your mood, energy and cravings (not included in pack)
Exercise at least 20 minutes

Okay, so that is what is in the Read Me First! instruction pamplet. What actually came in my pack? The Cleanse for Life juice, Isalean Shake mike (for the non-cleanse days), Isagenix Snacks, and Natural Accelerator. I guess if I'd know ahead of time that they wanted me on all the "not included" stuff, I might of ordered it. I don't know....maybe Isagenix should actually sell that in the pack.....just a thought!

Let's be real....it's really because of the potential weight loss......

2009-12-28T22:04:00.001-06:00

With the various products and systems that Isagenix offers, why did I decide to start with the 9 Day Cleanse? Let's get real......to jump start my weight loss!!!! Yeah, yeah, so I went on and on in my last post about my Gall Bladder, Kidney, and Liver function, but I am really intrigued by the potential weight loss promoted by using the Isagenix cleanse products. I've read several blog posts, e-opinions, etc. about weight loss up to 15 lbs after the first 9 Day Cleanse, yet others that say this product is a rip off.

I'm cautiously optimistic, but figured what the heck, since I can use this program to pretty much replace all my other supplements.....which makes my life a lot less complicated. Weight loss would be totally bonus. We'll see. I'm not going into this blind. I know that I still have to exercise, drink tons of water, and eat healthy on my non-cleanse days.

It would REALLY be cool though if I could loss about 10 lbs. I still won't be a size 2, but I don't think I've ever been that size ;).

Isagenix - Why not!

2009-12-28T10:37:00.001-06:00

So what is Isagenix and why am I trying it?

Isagenix is a nutritional supplement company that promotes body cleansing for a healthy and long life. When I first heard of the company - about a year ago - I thought "wow another gimmicky company". My Husband actually first introduced me to it because he saw a high school acquaintance on it, on Facebook. I went so far as to research it and try to dispel it as another crazy Master Cleanse type system. You know, the kind of system that only has you drink lemon juice, with Cheyenne pepper for 40 days, etc, etc... Yeah....like I could actually keep myself from eating solid food for even a week! Anyway, I dismissed it immediately and never looked back.

I never looked back until this Thanksgiving when my sister in-law said she was on it. Wow, someone I actually know is using it. Someone I don't think is a sucker, or crazy! =) Maybe I should look more into this company. Stephanie sent me the info and I reviewed the basic cleansing products for about a week. I still wasn't convinced. Not because I thought it was a bad product. I was actually surprised to see that the various systems actually made sense - Protein Shakes, sensible meals, etc.. I just thought - I can do this on my own without purchasing their system.

Before I go on, let me explain that I have Gall Gladder problems (stones, sludge, pain) and only one functional Kidney. About two years ago, rather then have my Gall Gladder removed, I took a holistic approach to eliminate my stones and sludge and minimize the pain I felt. I also started taking Kidney supplements to help with function. Figured I better help out the one Kidney that IS working. Along with all the supplements I was taking, I started a cleansing program that actually focused on Liver function. After all the liver is the largest glandular organ in your body, and if the liver isn't working properly, nothing else down the line will either. I maintained an 8 week cleansing program which had me on all organic foods, no dairy, no red meat, and no poultry. During and up to two months after the cleanse, I felt great and even lost about 8 pounds.

Yeah....great and all except that it was a hard "lifestyle" to maintain. Stephen was not doing this diet with me.....sorry, there was no way he was going to have a dinner of just soybeans (which I actually loved) and not eat meat. I actually missed meat too. I continued with all my supplements and tried to maintain a somewhat healthy eating regimen, but it just got harder and harder.

Okay, so back to Isagenix......I just thought - I can do this on my own without purchasing their system. I guess I have short term memory about how hard it is to pull everything you need together! I spent about two and half weeks, downing my supplements, in double dose to get the same effect, drinking my EAS protein shake with added Psyllium Husk, drinking an herbal cleansing hot tea and my fiber power insta sticks, eating extra doses of fruit, etc, etc..... Half the time I would forget to add the Psyllium Husk (an important additive) or forget my hot tea and insta sticks. Anyway, after two weeks, I realized I wasn't seeing any additional benefit from all the extra loading. I called Stephanie immediately and within 3 days had my 9 Day Cleanse pack.

I am starting today....We will see how it goes!

Trying again.......

2009-12-28T09:05:00.002-06:00

I think it is obvious that I gave up this blog before I really got started. I just found myself not really interested in tracking what I ate everyday. I know....boring.

I just started a new supplement program called Isagenix. I decided that I would blog about my experience. Here it goes......

Calorie Intake to Lose Weight

2009-02-10T15:22:00.002-06:00

I found this at the following web-link and thought it was very useful...

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/harris-benedict-equation/calorie-intake-to-lose-weight.php

Calorie Needs to lose weight
There are approximately 3500 calories in a pound of stored body fat. So, if you create a 3500-calorie deficit through diet, exercise or a combination of both, you will lose one pound of body weight. (On average 75% of this is fat, 25% lean tissue) If you create a 7000 calorie deficit you will lose two pounds and so on. The calorie deficit can be achieved either by calorie-restriction alone, or by a combination of fewer calories in (diet) and more calories out (exercise). This combination of diet and exercise is best for lasting weight loss. Indeed, sustained weight loss is difficult or impossible without increased regular exercise.

If you want to lose fat, a useful guideline for lowering your calorie intake is to reduce your calories by at least 500, but not more than 1000 below your maintenance level. For people with only a small amount of weight to lose, 1000 calories will be too much of a deficit. As a guide to minimum calorie intake, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends that calorie levels never drop below 1200 calories per day for women or 1800 calories per day for men. Even these calorie levels are quite low.

An alternative way of calculating a safe minimum calorie-intake level is by reference to your body weight or current body weight. Reducing calories by 15-20% below your daily calorie maintenance needs is a useful start. You may increase this depending on your weight loss goals.

I'm in no shape to run the Capital 10k

2009-02-09T17:46:00.003-06:00

A girlfriend, Jannah, e-mailed last week and asked if I'd be interested in running the Capital 10K. Wow, that is 6.4 miles. Let me think....no. Okay, but I am a little nuts, so I actually told her yes. I've run this race before, as a pre-teen, with my father. I think it would be exciting to run this again. The only problem.....I am in no shape to run 6.4 miles.

I can run....but slowly, on a treadmill. I have not run outdoors in probably 2 years. Almost stepped on a snake, one morning. That was enough to bring me indoors indefinitely. Have I also ever mentioned that I have a herniated disk in my lower back and my last doctor told me I should run! What do they know ~

Last I tried, I can run almost 3 miles on a treadmill. The race is on March 29th, so I have a little over a month to train for the other 3.5 miles. I am not going to stress over this too much. Jannah is not an avid runner either, so if we have to walk some we will both be okay with it.

My goal for this race is to use it as motivation to keep training (loss weight) and to finish the race without walking. I do not care what my time is, I just want to finish without walking!

Did I mention I am a stress eater!

2009-02-09T17:38:00.002-06:00

Okay, so I haven't blogged since 01/03/09. I really did try to log my diet and exercise over the last week. Well, logging my exercise would have consisted of.....two days on the treadmill, so you didn't miss much. Anyway, so I have been so stress (physically & emotionally) because of work. I usually push myself really hard, but the last two months really put me over the edge.

I've been working on a project with 3 other girls since November 24th. We've basically audited our entire circuit inventory for cost and billing codes. To make matters worse, we had to "let people go" her, and I took it very hard. Watching people I've worked with for years leave was emotionally taxing. To make matters worse (on top of this looming, high profile project) the lay off result in larger work loads for the rest of us.

I didn't gain any weight over the last three weeks, but I haven't lost any.....like I planned to. I've not consistently logged my diet either. As I started to say, I tried this past week. I even have my notes from Monday & Tuesday, but after that point, I did not have the time to log anything, much less blog about.

This is not an excuse. It's reality. I am not giving up though. I am starting my log again today. Wish me luck!

There's no Crying at the Gym!

2009-01-27T19:16:00.004-06:00

At least there shouldn't be. I can say I haven't cried at the gym yet, but it almost happened Wednesday night. I met with Cole at 7:30 for a very unsuccessful workout. No only was I physically exhausted, but my emotional state was pathetic. At the start of our first cycle I was ready to give up and almost started crying. I have never felt so defeated. Cole got me thru the work out, but I can tell you I didn't leave feeling recharged. I actually felt worse then when I came in.

Stress Eater!

2009-01-27T19:10:00.003-06:00

Okay, so even though I didn't log my diet last week, I just want to make it public that I am a stress eater. I really didn't eat anything not on my self imposed "healthy eating" list.....I just ate too much of it. I am finding it harder and harder to focus at work and the first thing I THINK i need is food. I always knew I was a stress eater, but I am finally trying to do something about it.

Cole suggested celery instead of carrots, soybeans etc....only because there are no calorie intake with celery. I am also trying to be aware when I am "stress eating". At that point I need to get up and go for a short walk around the building and or find a spot to stretch or lay down and breath!

What a day!

2009-01-27T18:25:00.004-06:00

Okay, so I had this in drafts and never posted it. This is from Monday 01/19/09:

What a day we had here at Grande. It was very stressful watching my co-workers "leave", but I am just glad I was not one of them. I had a couple of (or a continuous) anxiety attacks today. I wish I had training with Cole today, but was really proud of myself for going to the Gym on my own. Actually, I think going to the Gym is the only thing that saved me today. I walked/ jogged for an hour with 30 minutes of continuous jogging @ 5.5 miles/hr! That is the first time of done this kind of running in a while. I know it is because I had so much pent of energy/ stress. I am just glad I had an outlet!

Hasn't anyone heard of Spanks?

2009-01-17T13:10:00.005-06:00

So, when I rolled out this new blog to some friends, these are some of the responses I got:

"Cyndi...you don't need to lose weight"
"so are you planning to starve yourself"
"you are already thin! Do you want to look sick"
"If you think you need to lose weight what must you think of me!"

Let me start by reminding everyone that my goals are not entirely weight loss. I am trying to live a healthier life. I do also want to look better, but I think the weight loss is almost a side effect of proper diet and exercise...duh!

Anyway, what I want to say to everyone is....haven't you ever heard of Spanks! They are not a new innovation., but none the less a great product. I actually don't own "Spanks". My spandex is from Maidenform, but it works just the same.....holds the belly, hips, and thighs in, so I can wear fun little dresses! Long before Spanks, women were wearing "garments" to help shape the body. What do you think a corset was originally for! It didn't start out as a Dominatrix outfit. It does serve a purpose!

How many calories do I need? - Formulas

2009-01-15T13:04:00.011-06:00

On top of having to carefully watch what types of food I eat (more on that later), I really need to determine how much I should (or should not) eat.

The BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) Formula is an easy calculation using the following variables: height, weight, age and gender. Other things do factor into calorie needs such as activity level and lean body mass, however, for all intensive purposes, the following calculation will suffice.

English BMR Formula

Women: BMR=665+(4.35 x weight in pounds) + (4.7 x height in inches) - (4.7 x age in years)

Men: BMR=66+(6.23 x weight in pounds) + (12.7 x height in inches) - (6.8 x age in years)

Once you know your BMR, you can calculate your Daily Calorie Needs based on your activity level using the Harris Benedict Equation

Harris Benedict Formula
To determine your daily calorie needs, multiple your BMR by the appropriate activity, as follows:

1. If you are sedentary (little or no exercise): Calorie Calculation = BMR x 1.2
2. If you are lightly active (light exercise/sports 1-3 days/week): Calorie Calculation = BMR x1.375
3. If you are moderately active (moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days/week): Calorie Calculation = BMR x 1.55
4. If you are very active (hard exercise/sports 6-7 days a week): Calorie Calculation = BMR x 1.725
5. If you are extra active (very hard exercise/sports & physical job or 2x training): Calorie Calculations = BMR x 1.9

I could never be bulimic!

2009-01-15T10:41:00.005-06:00

So, I started this blog on Tuesday with great anticpation. Then I got sick....I caught a stomach virus. Without going into any details....let's just say I could not and would not ever become bulimic!

Not a Size 2!

2009-01-13T11:12:00.005-06:00

It's the start of a new year...a time when most are starting on new weight loss resolutions. Not me. I actually made a conscious effort to start living a healthy lifestyle about a year ago, so let me start by saying.....

I am Not a Size 2.....and I am not trying to be!

Let's not kid ourselves though. Most if not all of us would love to be "smaller" and more fit .....like we were when we were 18, but my main goal is to be healthy and toned.

There are several things in my life that prompted the lifestyle change. I have a sick/weak gall bladder, the potential of developing a fatty liver (mother has one and I have all the signs), only one functioning kidney, in excess of two inches of belly fat (heart disease risk), and just the general sense of disgust when I look in a mirror. As I mentioned before, I am not kidding myself....I want to look good for both me and my husband, but I also want to live a long, healthy life.

If you didn't catch it above, I am married. Stephen and I are going on 6 years, but have been dating since 1994. When we met, we were young, thin, and abused our bodies......like most college kids. I could stay out all night and eat at Taco Bell every day - and did! Now just the thought of Taco Bell, and I think of it often among other things, sets my gall bladder into a tail spin.

So here I am, another year older. Oh, did I mention I just turned 35 on January 9th. While I have been trying to lead a healthy life, I haven't done all I can. My intent is to use this blog to journal my daily struggles with health, workouts, and diet. Maybe you'll relate. Maybe you'll learn something from my experience. Maybe you'll just keep me in check by knocking the Taco Bell bag and soda out of my hand! Regardless.....I hope you enjoy!