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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.

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:

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!

I started working out daily again. It feels  great!

I decided to focus on the workout rather than making a great video, or even timing myself.  Today’s workout looks like this:

Warm Up
1  mile walk

Circuit (x3)
Bench Press with 12kgs, alternating x 10
20 Swings with 16kg
10 modified burpees (only horizontal jumps)

Here are some random things I noticed:  1) My pants are saggin’. I need some new workout clothes!  2) Although I’m distracted, I also enjoy having my son with me when I’m working out. It makes it more fun! 3) Too much time off from working out in between training sessions makes me slower and less happy.

How ’bout you? How’s your workout going?

Leave me a comment!  :)

I’ve been in a little bit of a rut, kettlefolks. I apologize for not getting on the blog and updating you with my daily progress or obstacles, even.

I guess I feel like I have nothing EXCITING to report. Exciting, as in, incredible amounts of weight loss, hitting new goals, or doing more complicated kettlebell maneuvers.

I’m definitely not regressing, so that’s good news. I’m still training with my personal trainer at FitPro Hawaii twice a week, and working out at home with kettlebells one to two times each week.

I’m practicing the snatch, but I still haven’t perfected it, although I am using 12kgs more consistently now. I tried my hand at the club bell, and it was fun! My forearms hurt the next day… and the next! And my grip isn’t that great.

My weight is going down and up within a two pound range. I haven’t been as diligent recently as I have in the past.

The thing about weight loss and eventual transformation is this– it is a process, and it happens day by day, decision by decision. My decision not to work out today is going to affect my progress tomorrow.

As a response to a recent post, Honolulu trainer Chris Ranes made the following observation:  ”Nothing gets you nowhere and something gets you somewhere closer to where you’re going.”

So, let’s do it!

Sponsored by FitPro Hawaii and WarriorHardware.com

New to using kettlebells? This workshop series will help you learn basic kettlebell exercises and provide a solid foundation for your kettlebell training. Bill Maeda (CPT, LMT) will guide you through a progressively challenging six week course at no cost to you.

Wednesdays, 5:30pm – 6:30pm

Queen’s Surf Beach (across from Kapiolani Bandstand)

September 16th – October 21st

Requirements. Participants must:

• Consider themselves a “beginner” to kettlebell training
• Be in good health
• Bring their own kettlebell (appropriately sized for your level of fitness)
• Commit to six weeks of training
• Be willing to practice during the rest of the weeks
• Be able to communicate via e-mail
• Sign a waiver of liability and indemnification

There are only 12 spaces available! Please e-mail me directly at angela@kettletell.com to reserve your space.