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Using Food to Fill the Void

Angela C. — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 09:47:29 +0000

Hey, folks!

It’s Sunday, stats day, and I’m behind on the blog. Before I begin, I just want to say thank you to each and every person reading this blog! I know we’re all busy, and I appreciate the time you take to read, comment, Tweet, post, and otherwise engage with me online.

That being said, I could use a little encouragement! Some of you may recall my post in November where I talked about the measuring tape being the most effective way of demonstrating my progress.

Well, today, I barely squeezed my tush into a size 12 bathing suit and went off to a birthday party. Later in the evening, I tried on some size 14 “designer” pants, and was mortified. My hips don’t lie. I’ve fallen of the wagon.

A while back, I was talking to a personal trainer who had lost a huge amount of weight. He mentioned sometimes still feeling and acting like that person carrying all those extra pounds.

It’s hard to imagine myself looking like this:

When right now, I feel that I look like this:

I don’t want to give you the impression that I think there’s anything bad about being my size, and ladies, if you got it, work it!

I’m just struggling with consistency, and that’s likely fueled by my inability to imagine myself anything but where I’m at right now.

To help me visualize a new me, I took a minute to reflect on the old me! In 2003, I left a well-paying job and began a venture in independent sales. Concurrently, I changed my eating habits and made the decision to never again work in a career where I had to sacrifice my personal health and well-being. In 3 months, I lost 30 pounds.

Although the business didn’t work out, I did stay on the renegade track for 2 years. I quit drinking alcohol, and for a while, even stopped drinking coffee! I switched to soy instead of cow’s milk, and began a vegetarian lifestyle.

At the time, I infrequently would take hikes, long walks and the occasional aerobics class. When my car finally gave out, I started walking everywhere, and taking the bus.

The picture on the right is of me, three years into this change (Spring 2006). A little while after this photo was taken, I became pregnant!

As a single working mom of a child with a major developmental delay, my lifestyle since then has completely changed. And I know I’ve resorted to the older habits that got me into trouble in the first place.

I started eating meat again when I was in my 1st term of pregnancy. I started drinking alcohol again when I moved to Honolulu. I’ve been using sugar and caffeine as “uppers” ever since I had a newborn!

But the bigger threat to my health and well-being is comfort food. My vices can be salty or sweet, creamy or crunchy, dark chocolate or milk chocolate. It’s just too easy to ignore the consequences and choose something that feels good in the short term.

I’m filling the void with food!

I suppose I’m jumping on the blog today to reach out, and ask for some encouragement. I didn’t even want to weigh in or take my measurements today. I know I’m back in the 190′s, and I know that my measurements last week were 39, 39, 43. And I’ve had only one workout with kettlebells in the last 9 days.

The first practice that I believe will make a difference is starting my day with an attitude of gratitude. One of my friends exchanges e-mails with me every day. We share one or two sentences answering the question: “What are you grateful for?” This helps me frame my day with positive expectation.

I asked another friend to do the water challenge with me. We’re going to shoot for 64 ounces of water a day (although another friend of mine suggests 1/2 my weight in water, which would be a whopping 95 ounces!)

As for accountability, I may need to ask Dwayne Perkins to do another blog-a-thon with me. I found that when I had to check in here daily, I wanted to report progress!!!

Maintaining a positive attitude is where you come in. Sometimes I’ll just spend a minute looking at Facebook or reading other people’s tweets to see what good news they might bring.

I’m looking forward to hearing from you, and I promise, there will be blogs with more “action” to come! Please take a moment and give me a shout out! I appreciate it in advance!

Mid-March Weigh In and Measurements

Angela C. — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:06:53 +0000

Aloha, everyone!

I’d like to first thank everyone who has responded to me via e-mail, facebook, twitter and even by phone! (In this world of technology, who knew I could get feedback by phone?) Yes! I have decided to keep this blog, and just renewed my lease with my host, so I’m in this for the long haul.

Speaking of haul, I’ve been carrying a couple of extra inches over the last couple of weeks. I’m not entirely surprised, given my high stress to low workout ratio.

Here’s the strange thing. My weight went down!

This leads me to believe that I’m living proof that “muscle weighs more than fat.” Whew! Look at that body fat percentage. Aye yi yi!

To end on a positive note, I’ve started looking for inspiration in ordinary places. Since the tsunami scare in Hawaii at the end of February, I’ve been noticing the awesome power of Mother Nature.

I hope to incorporate more outdoorsy things in my exercise regimen soon.

Hey, if you’re a facebooker, please click on the link on the very bottom, right side of the page and become a fan of this blog! It’s free!

I wish you the best on your journey. Keep going!

End of February Weigh In and Measurements

Angela C. — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:38:49 +0000

First the good news: I have lost over 10 pounds and about 5 1/2 inches on my bust, waist and hips so far in 2010!

I‘m still working out twice a week with Bill Maeda over at FitPro Hawaii, and incorporating some new tools into my kettlebell regimen.

The bad news? As of March, I back pedaled again! The combination of a major transition for my child, a minor illness, and personal issues ended up being too much stress for me to bear.

I’ve started to take a personal inventory. What habits have I fallen back into? (i.e. What got me here in the first place?) What beliefs do I have about myself, my ability, or my potential that are limiting my progress? What do I have control over and what do I need to let go?

This process, sometimes brings up painful answers, so it helps to focus on the last question above. In the following blog, I will look at ten positive habits that I know work for me, and that I can continue to implement as I progress towards my goal of 80 total pounds lost.

Although I am tired of the pendulum swinging back and forth (a sort of 3 pounds lost, one pound gained kind of thing), this is where I’m at!

If I give up now, it will be one pound gained, one pound gained, one pound gained, and I’ll be back to 5′ 4″, 216 pounds, and less healthy and less happy than ever!

I’d be interested in hearing from anyone who has experienced the kind of pendulum swing I’m talking about. What did you do to get centered and progress forward? Facebook me, tweet me, or better yet, comment in the reply space below!

Aloha, and best wishes as you go through your journey!

Happy (belated) Valentine's Day!

Angela C. — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:18:25 +0000

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!

Water Weight?

Angela C. — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:15:48 +0000

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?

Problems in my Pants

Angela C. — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 01:03:11 +0000

Hey, folks!
Here’s a quick commentary about what’s been going on with me. Yes, I’m still training with kettlebells at FitPro Hawaii with Bill. It turns out that working out and working full-time has caused a couple of wardrobe malfunctions:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK6EasXyVQQ

Be sure to join the e-mail list in the upper right corner, and also the Facebook page. You never know what goodies might come your way!

Starting anew in 2010

Angela C. — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:00:29 +0000

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.

Leaving 2009 in the dust!

Angela C. — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:09:01 +0000

Hey, kettlepeeps!

Have you ever looked back at small pieces of your life and felt pretty good about it? I find that I usually don’t give myself kudos for small accomplishments, but today, I am.

I’m happy that I haven’t given up on myself in my quest to lose weight and gain healthy habits. I moved my goal date from October 30,2009 (with a 55lb loss) to June 30, 2010 (with a 70 pound loss) and I believe I will do it.

I’ve always lacked a sense of confidence (if you couldn’t tell) when it came to physical activity. I avoided competitive sports, even bowling, until I was well out of college.

I’ve always held at least two jobs, or a job and a side-job, which kept me perpetually running around. I “worked out,” but usually that meant a group class, like high impact aerobics, or my own mix of cardio and body weight training. I’ve only felt comfortable in my own skin with dance, or more specifically (non-competitive) hula.

I started and stopped Weight Watchers after moderate success. I really gave up on working out and meal planning when I was pregnant with my son.

Not surprisingly, these things took a toll on my overall health and well-being.

As of May 2009, I decided to take on something new, set a goal, and strive for it publicly.

I don’t have to be perfect, in fact, who is? But I can hold myself accountable and have some fun while I’m at it. Enter kettlebells.

I started training at FitPro Hawaii, and made some solid gains (or losses) over the past 8 months. It’s been a bumpy ride, and I’m back in the 190s, but I’m still progressing:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FePDEmEL9Rc

My new workout partner, Ty, and I have decided that we are going “ballistic.” To him, this means being able to hike up a mountain wearing a weight vest. For me, this means getting off my tush and making sure I do something, even a little thing, each and every day.

And, there’s friendly competition there. No, I’m not aiming to do as many push ups as he does. But I am working hard to be consistent and show up where I need to be, no complaints.

In 2010, I’m tackling my eating habits. It will be a challenge, Lord help me. But it can be done.

And you-- I’m really curious-- what are you leaving behind, and what are you looking forward to?

Leave me a comment! And thanks for joining me on this journey. Aloha!

Kettlechat, December 2009

Angela C. — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:06:05 +0000

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:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI4vq_IIiEk

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!

Sunday Stats: Adjusting the Course

Angela C. — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:58:27 +0000

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!