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Oh, for the love of kettlebells!

I hope that — for those of you who celebrate Valentine’s Day– February 14th was a day to cherish your loved ones; honor yourself; and spend time giving and receiving from the heart.

For me, Valentine’s Day in Hawaii also marked Lunar New Year! My favorite part of celebrating what is termed “Chinese New Year” in Hawaii is the Lion Dance.

Eating lots of treats used to be on the list, but now, I’m looking for more active ways to celebrate all holidays with my friends and family.

Which brings me to the next part of this blog- the “weigh in.” Really, my measurements have not been much different from week to week, so I’ve been eyeing the scale a lot more closely.

What I have noticed is that I’m finally at the point where I will know my weight based on how my clothes fit. Now that’s bordering on obsession. (My trainer would be so happy!)

There’s no significant difference in my weight and measurements from 2 weeks ago. (My trainer would be not so happy…)

At this rate, I’m not going to make it to 179. But remember my mottos:

Don’t Give Up!
and
It’s better to do a little bit of somethin’ than a whoooooole lot of nothin’!

So, “Happy Hearts Day!” Enjoy this season of aloha.

Please send me a comment below… your encouragement makes a huge difference in my attitude, behaviors and motivation!

It’s stats Sunday time.

I just finished 9 days of an Isagenix cleanse, so I was feeling pretty good. I had kettlebell practice with my trainer and my workout partner, and I’d been walking uphill with my 30-pound kid packed on my back, so I went into my office (aka the bathroom) to take my measurements and weigh in.

I’m a little disappointed:

I guess I shouldn’t be that disappointed; I did lose nearly 10 pounds! What is most exciting for me is that I lost an INCH on my hips! Woo hoo! I’ve had no progress in that area in weeks.

This leads me to believe that I did lose a significant amount of water during the cleanse, maybe 2 pounds. I’m not going to complain.

Next goal:  hit 179.

How about you?

Well, kettleviewers… so far, I’m starting 2010 off with a clean  slate. Like many, the new year brings a sense of “I can do it!” to everything I’m taking on.

I think 2010 is going to teach me discipline. My health and overall fitness goals are just part of the whole picture. In every aspect, I’m learning to tackle a little bit each and every day, consistently.

I could focus on nutrition, exercise, saving money, connecting with friends, or even my business goals, and keep myself motivated by doing something — even just a little — every single day.

It’s like the adage of saving for a rainy day. If I put aside a dollar for every day this year, I’d have $365 on December 31st that I wouldn’t have otherwise.

I know, some of you would like to put aside TEN dollars a day — and if you have it, by all means, do it — however, for me, taking bite-sized pieces really works.

I find that setting my sights on a realistic goal, like “get some physical activity in,” or “no sugary sweets today,” allows me to focus on a small choice or activity that will pay off over time. Check it out:

I think that my scale(s) are a little off, so let’s not get excited about losing 5.5 pounds in one week, people. I didn’t starve myself, and I haven’t started my cleanse yet.

What I am really tracking here are the inches on my body. Last week, I dragged myself into training, pretty upset. My clothes weren’t fitting the way they were, even a month ago.

My trainer challenged me and my partner again — lose a pound a week, or pay up! Jerk!

I mean, here’s a picture of him teaching us how to do “the jerk.”

So my workout partner, Ty, and I decided to keep eachother accountable over e-mail/text/harrassing phone calls:

“Eat healthy today?”
“What did you do to workout?” ”
“Put that mini Reeses’ Peanut Butter cup down! Two pounds a week!”

Jerk!

Just kidding! Every little bit helps, really.

I’m keeping my eye on my one  year goal– to have lost 80 pounds, and over 12 inches in my waistline — through discipline, consistency, and a sense of humor.

Not to mention, I have an even bigger goal; that is, to be a healthy mom.

Happy New Year, everybody! Leave me a comment!

P.S.  I’ll be tracking my progress starting from January 2010. Feel free to look at past blogs under the category “Measurements” to see how I’ve fared since May 2009.

Aloha, and Mele Kalikimaka Kettlepeeps! (Hello and Merry Christmas, friends and people who enjoy using kettlebells!)

Here’s the latest in the ongoing drama that is kettletell:

Just so you can see what I was referring to in the video, here are my latest stats.

I can’t give up! It seems like I’m regressing, but I really have been working hard these last couple of weeks! I can’t wait for it to finally pay off!

Please leave a reply, words of encouragement, tips, comments and questions below.

Aloha!

Aloha, Kettlepeeps!

After my birthday, it was tempting to feel proud. I had been working hard for 6 months, and had a modicum of success.

I could fit clothes that I had bought when I moved to Hawaii and soon “grew” out of. I was meeting with my personal trainer and also working out on my own.

Surely, this was cause for celebration?

Unfortunately, I allowed myself a bit too much leeway. I eased up on my home workouts and stopped tracking what I ate. I started a couple of new ventures and spent less time blogging. And I started eating things I had previously avoided.

Here’s the results for this week:

I’m back to my weight and size as in August! Talk about a roller coaster!

Yes, I’m frustrated. Sigh.

But I’m not giving up! Here’s what a friend of mine wrote on facebook recently:

you know… i wish all clients were like you. you set realistic goals, you know that it’s usually a 2 steps forward, 1 step back kinda deal, and more than anything, you accept that and never give up. i’ve given up on myself and people in general when it comes to health and wellness… but your kettletell story gives me inspiration and hope. thanks angela! and happy thanksgiving..

I’m going to keep reminding myself that  success is not always a straight course, and it may not look like what I expect!

Realistic Doll Based on Average American Woman

I heard a great metaphor for this. A plane doesn’t fly in one straight line from Point A to Point B. A pilot makes minor adjustments all along the route, so that it looks more like a series of jagged lines:

So, while this may be a bit more turbulent than I expected, it’s all in the plan.

Thanks for continuing to follow me at kettletell. I am always happy to hear from you, so please leave me a reply below!