#learning balance

[knowtrueliving]

I want to be healthy without my entire life revolving around my health. I need to find balance but I really have no idea how. I’m not a grey area human, it’s black or white. All or nothing. And the rest of my life is going to be unlearning a solid portion of my personality.

[abitofsilliness]

This is the first day-after-Valentine's Day in years that I can remember not waking up with horrendous heartburn and a sour stomach.

There's something to be said for balance. We ate out twice yesterday, but I didn't feel like it was my "only chance" to eat "everything I wanted" as I usually do on Valentine's Day, when it's been simply a diet-break.

[learningbalance]

Losing It

I've been wanting to post this for a while. My original post was a rant about how I was losing it because I wasn't losing it - fat, weight, inches... The numbers weren't moving on the scale and I was getting pissed, disgusted, discouraged, annoyed, and every other negative word in the dictionary.

The good part about the past month or so is that I've been ridiculously busy and haven't had much time to post my rants. Today, a new leaf.

Today's "losing it" is about actually losing it. The weight, that is.

I've been going to the gym for about 2 months now. Month 1, I was just trying to keep up with my schedule and trying to find my groove. Figuring out how to work with trainers, which classes to take, how to make this a priority in my life and not work, etc. It was tough to learn how to readjust my whole life and set new boundaries. Slap on top of that the fact that I was going to the gym on a regular basis and the scale wasn't moving... I lost my attitude somewhere along the way.

A few weeks ago a friend posted an update of her progress on Facebook and the competitive side in me came out. I was quite happy for her - she has had tremendous results in the wellness world, but not too far below the surface, I was jealous and bitter.

So I did what any bitter, competitive, crazy woman on a mission would do. I bought the same plan that she's been doing. Tone it Up. For only $150 (for a lifetime, at least for now), the plan offers a nutrition plan that is full of recipes, tips, science, meal plans, motivational messages, grocery lists, and much more. It also includes workout routines from simple pilates to HIIT workouts and everything in between.

On top of the nutrition guidelines, the plan also has me working my booty every morning doing 30 minutes of cardio. I double it up in the evening with another round of cardio, abs, and/or strength training.

My typical week looks like this:

Sunday - Bike or Swim in the morning, abs + HIIT video workout in the evening

Monday - Bike or Eliptical in the morning, personal trainer (Boxing, Kynesis, strength training, abs, stretching) in the evening

Tuesday - Bike, Eliptical, or Swim in the morning, aqua HIIT workout in the evening + stretching

Wednesday - Bike or swim in the morning, pilates + swim in the evening

Thursday - Personal trainer (strength training + abs + stretching) in the morning, aqua HIIT + stretching in the pm

Friday - Some sort of cardio in the morning, zumba or pilates or swim in the evening

Saturday - Cardio in the morning, swimming in the afternoon + strength training

Sunday - Cardio in the morning, timeout in the afternoon. The body needs a break!

Since starting Tone It Up, I've toned up and slimmed down! I checked in with my trainer this morning and was really excited to see the numbers go down!

"Losing it" to Date:

8 lbs - GONE!

4.5" (waist, arms, thigh, hips) - MELTED AWAY!

BMI down 1.4

Body Fan down almost 4% (!!!)

Looking forward to going another 4 weeks while keeping up the work and sticking to the nutrition plan and seeing where I am this time next month!

Stay tuned for more updates as they come. This is all part of a new lifestyle for me and I am super excited about the journey. And of course, excitedabout Learning Balance.