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Weighing in: How to be happy when the scale barely moves

Angela C. — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:00:20 +0000

Hey, everyone out there in kettlebell world!

I don’t feel very qualified to talk about staying happy, but I think that this is probably the most important topic I will ever post on this blog.

How many of you who are working out, watching what we eat, and reading everything possible on health and nutrition still pause momentarily before stepping on the scale? I find that the moments leading up to my weekly weigh in may be the most anxiety-provoking in my week.

Maybe I’m taking my weigh in a little too seriously. Or maybe, just maybe, I experience complete fear around the thought of not reaching my goal and then reporting it on the world wide web… and far worse… to my accountability partner.

I found that there are two types of people in this world: those that are motivated by fear, and those who are immobilized by fear. Where do you stand?

Unfortunately, I belong in the latter group. When I am afraid of losing something, especially something I’ve been dedicated to and personally invested in, I just want to pull my head back in my turtle shell. With that being said, here’s today’s weigh in:

While I am closer to my 2/28 goal, I already know that I’m not going to make it. So, how do I keep my head above water and keep pushing forward?

Through action and interaction.

Here’s what I’ve learned from this process: I need you! I need you to keep me accountable, because sometimes, I don’t want to do it.

In all of my adult life, I feel like I’ve been seeking this – someone to rely upon when I just want to throw the sweaty towel in.

I’ve gone down many roads (I could write a blog on my MLM experiences alone!) seeking out partnership. I think having someone (or ones) as my partner(s) is truly the key to my personal happiness.

Then, as it states, right there in the beginning of the word partnership, I need to do MY part:

I have to practice forgiveness, especially of myself. I can start without saying “I have to” and move into “I choose to.”

I can take responsibility for my actions. For example, I chose to eat those peanut butter cookies, nobody put them in my stomach!

I can prepare. Here’s where my Personal Trainer at FitPro Hawaii comes in. He helps me develop short and longer term goals, as a road map of my journey.

And I can celebrate my successes, large and small. Just to keep myself going, I’m going to take a look at my before and afters. Here are some clips from videos past:

May 29, 2009.

Feb 21, 2010

Light shines on me

So, to wrap this up– in the future, will I stay happy when the weight on the scale is barely changing and my clothes sizes are not getting any smaller? With your support, yes I can! Mahalo!

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?

Isagenix Cleanse Day #1: Doubts and Challenges

Angela C. — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 13:33:54 +0000

Have you ever noticed that as soon as you set an ambitious goal, obstacles appear?

My hurdle occurred on Day #1 of my Isagenix cleanse this month, in the form of a kid’s bean burrito.

You may be thinking to yourself, “That’s not that hard to say ‘no’ to!” Unless you’re me and you haven’t eaten solid food in 2 days.

Add to that the challenge of living in a household where you come home to dessert baking in the oven or delivered to the door from a loving friend, and you’ve just entered a minefield. Anywhere I step, I’m running into something that could blow this cleanse out of the water: fresh baked banana mufffins, Hawaiian food, a bean burrito. Check it out:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAeGIb4xirA

Well, at least I stuck with the original plan, avoided the kalua pig (my downfall last time), had a laugh with my sister about all the food in the house, and moved on.

Sometimes, I just need a minute to review, renegotiate and recommit to my goal.

How about you? What are you taking on and what’s been challenging you? Leave me a reply below!

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!

Sunday Stats – The Holidays are Here!

Angela C. — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:09:30 +0000

Aloha, kettlecousins!

We celebrated Thanksgiving with a 20+ person party at our house – and that was just the immediate family! I hope that this past weekend was joyous for you as well, and that you embraced the spirit of gratitude, whether you are in the United States or not.

I definitely indulged in family, fun and food. I had stopped counting calories along the way, and unfortunately, it shows:

In this month that I haven’t been training at FitPro, I steadily lost the gains (or gained back the losses?) I had over a month ago! Talk about disappointing.

I can’t give up– I just can’t!

I’ve found a new training partner, and also renewed my joy for walking up mountains.

I also got a kelty carrier for my toddler to join me and see the world from outside of a stroller.

My holiday job has me on my feet for 6 – 8 hours a day, away from the computer, cell phone and other time wasters. This holiday season, I’ve also decided to give up diet soda, and drink plain, refreshing H2O.

My workout partner challenged me to hit 179.0 pounds by Christmas. It’s an ambitious goal. I started to reaffirm myself, and the latest quote I have posted in my room is:

“179 pounds tastes better than any dessert!”

I don’t think dessert in general is horrible, and I’m not a fan of deprivation (obviously).

Since I love desserts so much, including a recent affair with pumpkin-themed sweets, I decided that I will focus on making a clear choice to eat dessert, or any other sugary food choice.

I can allow myself to consciously choose to eat a sweet, rather than having it and pretending I didn’t by not counting it. I just need to factor it in with the other food I’ve eaten, and weigh it out.

If I’m just having a craving (or an emotional desire to eat a particular thing rather than a physical need for it) I can focus on the success I will achieve by working through it. If I just can’t pass on the dessert, I’ll have a small amount, and count it.

Each food choice, big and small, has affected my weight. Combine that with a total lack of kettlebell training in the four weeks preceding this one, and I’m disheartened, but not surprised at the results.

I could go on and on about what I haven’t done that’s led me to this point, but instead, I’ll make a list of what I can do now that will propel me towards my goal:

Kettlebell training, minimum 20 minutes, five times a week before work
Cardio with Kai in the kelty carrier, five times a week when I get home from work
A salad a day (or other mix of healthful vegetables)
Daily multivitamin
8 glasses of water a day
Pause and think before I choose to eat a sweet
Track everything on the blackberry

That about covers it. If I can manage to do even 70% of what’s on this list, I’ll see good results. If I do everything on this list– consistently– I’ll see great results.

Who else is with me? Leave me a comment! Mahalo!

Stressful Snacking?

Angela C. — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 05:38:40 +0000

Hey kettlefolks!

For the past week, I’ve been in various coffee houses around Honolulu, working to a deadline. One of the joys of working for yourself is that you get to work anywhere! (Conversely, you don’t have an office or regular workspace.)

Lately, I’ve been looking at this: And this has been looking at me:

What’s that in your hand, Angela?

I’m glad you asked!

It’s an Ice blended mocha, no sugar added, extreme.

What does extreme mean?

More coffee.

I’m running on less sleep than usual, my eyes are tired and bloodshot, and I just want to complete this project so that I can move on to the next. (Not that I’m complaining– I do love working in the field of education– albeit, independently!)

In the past few days, I had not worked out, had not eaten healthy and nutritious meals, and for a second I thought I was back in finals week during my undergraduate college career.

As I’m sitting here sipping this bittersweet drink, I started to review the other things I’ve been putting into my system. Everything that I’ve had a craving for falls into one of four categories: salty or sweet, crunchy or creamy. Sometimes, it’s two of the four, like crunchy and salty — popcorn, or those veggie tubes we got at COSTCO. But usually, I have a very clear idea of what I want, and I when I’m working up to the last minute, like now, I’ll go and get it.

I think this is stressful snacking; an insidious form of emotional eating. It’s insidious because I almost don’t realize I’m doing it.

For example, the graham cracker I was snacking on with my son. (Sweet and crunchy.) I didn’t have a whole cracker… or wait, did I? I can’t remember, because I wasn’t paying attention. What about the salty barbecue chicken I had for lunch? I usually can’t finish the mini-plate. Today, I ate the whole thing.

About the only thing saving me so far this week is the fact that I did get into the FitPro Hawaii gym today. After swings and suitcase squats with the 16kg kettlebells, Bill busted out the benches. Liz and I did presses and various weight bearing activities with two 12kgs. I’ve been typing all week– my shoulders are taut and my wrists are thrashed! I’m so glad I got in there!

We also got homework for the next four days– complete a total of 200 clean and presses (the long cycle) with two 8 kgs. I can do 100 over two days (yeah, right) or 50 each day. We also have to continue our cardio on our own.

I’ll keep in touch! In the meantime, can you please let me know what kind of healthy snacks you eat that are satisfying?

kettaloha!

If At First You Don't Succeed…

Angela C. — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:44:05 +0000

One thing I’m learning through this process is to stick with it! In other areas of my life, I’ve gotten caught in the “all or nothing” trap. If I can’t do it perfectly, heck, why do it at all?

For example, I might think, ” If I can’t get at least 30 minutes to work out, heck, why do just a little?”

I’m constantly challenging the idea that everything has to be perfect. What is that, anyway? As a working mom, sometimes I need to be satisfied with “good enough.”

The other day, I tried to squeeze a workout in… right before a bunch of people were coming over. After the requisite cleaning and set up, I ran out of time for a full workout. Not to mention, my son wanted my attention.

I grabbed my child, threw him in a stroller, and half-heartedly tried to complete my homework assignment. It didn’t work out that well.

Rather than be defeated, I tried again the next day… and it was good! (Or at least, good enough!) Here’s what that looked like:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tlSq7rkk4w

[ad]

I’d love to hear from you! How do you get it done? Leave a comment!

Sunday Wrap up- the good, the bad, and the ugly

Angela C. — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:53:31 +0000

Well, here it is, folks. My painstaking progress over the last 13 weeks. On average, I’m losing a pound a week. Last week, I lost EXACTLY one pound.

I suppose that can count as part of the “good” news. My measurements stayed exactly the same, which I will also consider “good,” given all of the “ugly” that happened over the weekend.

Other good news: I worked out on Friday and Saturday, incorporating a brisk walk at the beginning of the day, and a kettlebell workout in the afternoon. Check back often– I have some back posts to enter!

Let’s move on to the “bad.” I did nothing on Sunday. I mean– I slept late, didn’t hike, didn’t workout with the kbs– nothing. I didn’t even try. That’s bad.

I’m also drinking diet soda again. I have been drinking DECAF coffee in the morning, as opposed to my 3-shot latte, but started with the one or two diet cokes/pepsis mid-week.

So how bad is “ugly,” then? I ate three different desserts at my cousin’s graduation party on Friday. I mean, COME ON! Three? Well, yes, a nibble of banana cream pie. A sliver of chocolate cake. And a full-sized serving of gooey bread pudding. Mmmm… I mean, bad girl!

It gets worse. Today? I might as well call it carb-fest Sunday. It started past midnight on Saturday. I was up too late. I had lite popcorn with REAL butter… and parmesan cheese. Some chips. And I’m NOT a midnight snacker.

Today, all I wanted was carbs carbs carbs. Breakfast was an organic chocolate bar. Then, off to CPK, where I diligently ordered a light salad… and finished my son’s fusilli with cheese.

Of course, who can resist the smell of popcorn wafting through Kahala Mall? Not me! More carbs!

Dinner? Pad Thai and eggplant tofu. Not bad, but not a lot of vegetables.

I think the moral of the story is this– I need to eat a full, nutritious, low cal, balanced breakfast, regardless of what time I wake up. Lately, it’s been Fiber One with light soy milk and a boiled egg. That way, I won’t have this urge to eat things that are bad for me.

The other important lesson here is that I can have and enjoy little treats… ocassionally. I am not going into deprivation mode, only to binge eat. I am making a lifelong change here.

I have to remember my former mantra: ”Is eating this worth it?” So far, that’s worked for things like rocky road ice cream, chocolate dobash cake, and even french fries. My logic is this– I can have these things anytime. They will not disappear off the face of the earth.

I can choose to have that margarita or even that bread pudding, but here’s the deal– I need to pay my dues. If I’m going to eat it, then I need to either work it off, or compensate with my other food choices.

Please feel free to share your strategies with me in the comments section. I look forward to hearing from you!

Pre-Cleanse Day #2, Kettlebell Workout #1

Angela C. — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:08:06 +0000

Hola!

So as you know, I’m completing a 9-day cleanse with the Isagenix program. (No, I’m not a distributor, and I’m not reppin’ the brand. I just want to keep you informed.)

Today is day two of my “pre-cleanse.” Essentially, that means, get ready, here it comes! A pre-cleanse day is a “shake” day. I drink a chocolate meal replacement shake for lunch and dinner. Today, I had grilled ahi and a salad for lunch. I snacked on cashews and sunflower seeds this afternoon, because I wanted something crunchy.

I have given up drinking my iced non-fat 3-shot espresso latte cold turkey. For that, I got a massive, and I do mean, terrible headache. It lasted only an hour, thank goodness, and then I was able to rest.

I’m drinking my last chocolate shake of the evening, but I’m having a hard time finishing it. Frankly, I’ve had a lot of water. I’m full. I’m usually dehydrated– and now– I’m full.

I’d love to hear your tips about how you’ve been successful during a cleanse.

Today, I got back in the gym. I haven’t managed a workout since last Friday. Knowing that I’m pre-cleansing, my trainer gave me a little room today. I started with one-handed thrusters with the 8kg (unlike the usual two-handed), and counted down the ladder from 10 to 5 thrusters on each side.

A “fun” game we played? Let’s swing perfect swings! I completed 20 swings in between my thrusters, but I found that I kept shifting backwards. I do a little hop thing; it seems that I’m allowing my hips to push forward a bit, thereby hyper-extending my back and displacing my weight.

So the game was, “Do perfect swings in one place, or start over again!” Sigh. The first time we played this game, I did a hop back after 13 swings. So, I had to start over again. Let me tell ya– this was the last time I moved out of place!

I was having a hard time controlling my movements; we traced the source to my abs (of all things)! The way that Bill puts it– my abs are not connecting the energy from my lower body into my swings. So, we stopped mid-course to work on abs.

Typically, we don’t do isolated exercises, but today called for it. I started with forearm planks on the rubber ball.

Next we did the “Warrior Goddess” move, which is really a plank and then a turn onto the sides of your feet. Bill asked us to hold it for 5 seconds in each position. I couldn’t do it for more than a few reps.

So, we switched up to very isolated crunches on the ball. We got into a “table” position, lying with our butts and our heads hanging off the ball, and our stomach and thighs flat, like a table. Then, lifting my hips up off the ball, I curl up so that my rib cage area shortens. This isn’t a huge sit up, it’s really a small, but painful, crunch. I could do about 3 of these each time.

We finished our thruster-swing sets, I did a few stretches with the chest expander, and I was pau!

At 10pm tonight, I’m starting to feel a headache coming on. Rather than suffer in silence, I’m going to go ahead and take 2 ibuprofen. It’s allowed. Tomorrow- the cleanse begins!

Thanks for following me! I look forward to hearing from you!

Let's Get it Started!

Angela C. — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:44:49 +0000

So, I’ve been in a holding pattern over the last couple of weeks. My body has gotten used to training at the level I’m at, and my brain has settled back into a comfort zone of mediocrity.

As I was cleaning out my files yesterday, I came across my HMSA “Health Pass” booklet that I received after completing a health profile, 3 months after I moved back to Hawaii. This was startling, because I recall that I had stopped weighing myself and didn’t even own a scale until this year.

In November 2007, my stats were almost exactly what they are today, in July 2009. On the one hand, yay for me! In just 10 weeks, I have erased a year and a half of weight gain. On the other hand, sigh. I was hoping to erase a little bit more, a little bit faster.

This most recent plateau is disheartening. The worst part is that I know exactly why my stats are, well, static. I haven’t been doing anything dynamic. Most importantly, I’ve allowed the circumstances of the last two weeks to dictate where I spend my time and energy.

Of course, many would say that I couldn’t help getting the flu; after all, my whole family got sick. My child has even had a mild fever over the last few days.

That may be true, and it might even be a good thing that I had this particular virus and am now done with it. I also believe, however, that I can take care of my health and environment to prevent illness.

Without getting into an historical, medical or philosophical discussion about detoxifying your body, I’m just going to mention that I’m undertaking an 11-day cleanse. There are various methods to clear the body of toxins– I’m choosing a pre-fabricated system:

Tomorrow, Monday, will be my first “Pre-cleanse” day, when I have shakes to replace breakfast and dinner. I’ll do the same on Tuesday. On Wednesday, I’ll begin the 9-day process, alternating between “cleanse” days and “shake” days. I’ll be done next week Thursday.

Of course, I’m going to shed some pounds. More importantly, I hope to reduce my sugar cravings, my dependence on caffeine, and kickstart my metabolism. I’ll keep working out and making healthy choices on the days that I eat food. And- you’ll be updated on my progress!

Thanks for joining me on the journey!