Welcome to Kettletell | Transformation by Kettlebell » wellness

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!

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!

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!

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.

Sunday Stats: 25 pounds less on 10/25/09

Angela C. — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:07:38 +0000

Ooooh! My birthday is approaching!

I’m excited — not to be gaining another year — but rather, because I’m finally losing weight!

This week marked my descent into the 180′s. When I was over 200 pounds, I was lethargic, unmotivated and unhappy. Most of all, I felt angry that I allowed myself to gain so much weight after my child was born, and yet, I felt justified in doing so. Classic victim mentality.

Armed with a 4kg kettlebell and the support of my friends and family, I started slowly. I started taking my vitamins daily, and stopped eating dessert daily. I began kettlebell practice with my friend Liz and our trainer, Bill Maeda, at FitPro Hawaii.

I re-learned how to breathe and how to move. I discovered “the plank.” I also found out that a chunky ball of iron on a handle can provide me with the most challenging one-tool workout I’ve ever had.

So, here I am, exactly 25 pounds lighter than when I first started this blog, excited to celebrate my birthday, and looking forward to hearing from you!

Remember, you can shoot me an e-mail at subscribe@kettletell.com to get up to date e-mails from the good folks (that’s really just me) over here at kettletell! We don’t do spam!

Sunday Stats

Angela C. — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:23:58 +0000

Hey folks!

It’s been a strange week. I either had the stomach flu or food poisoning. I didn’t work out all week. I counted calories every single day, using my blackberry. And I ended up with the exact same measurements as the week before, but a pound less:

I’ll do a video progress update soon. For now, I’m just happy that some of my clothes are fitting me loosely!

Thanks for following! Be sure to subscribe to my e-mail list with the link above, or just by sending an e-mail to subscribe@kettletell.com — you’ll get updates whenever I send one! (And remember, kettletell does not spam!)

Progress Update – 22 pounds lost!

Angela C. — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:15:17 +0000

Hey, folks!

Here’s a quick progress report for ya. I’m continuing on my journey of losing 80 total pounds by June 30, 2010!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OXMrkngGvw

[ad]

Shout out to all my kettlepeeps in Texas!

Join the facebook group!

Send me some aloha- write a comment on the blog!

Angela

A Pound A Week… Or Else!

Angela C. — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:15:51 +0000

I’ve been politely questioned, rudely asked, and even teased about my weight. None of that really made a difference in terms of motivating me to get healthy, in fact, it may have had the opposite effect.

My trainer is taking a different approach — a financial consequence.

Liz and I have agreed. If we don’t come in weighing one pound less consistently every week, our hourly rate will increase by a dollar… permanently!

A pound is a comfortable goal. I’m confident I won’t go into the poor house, and can maintain weight loss of a pound a week. Two pounds a week, however, is my actual goal.

My exercise plan can certainly be improved since I have not been consistent in that regard. Some weeks I’ve had 5 workouts, and most weeks, just three. So, that can be easily fixed.

Healthy eating has not been a priority for me in weeks. Now, this is a touchy area for me. In my word, I say I want to eat healthy, but in deed, I’m not. My healthy integrity has gone out the door!

I’ve recommitted to eating well, one day at a time. I like my food journal on my phone, even if I don’t like its name. I’m always going to be a nerd, so I like seeing the calculations.

Here’s the part that takes real commitment, though– measuring everything– and I mean EVERYTHING I put in my mouth!

Here’s a few examples:

Coffee with 1 tbsp creamer

Examining the Nutrition Facts on Every Single Item

Note to self: a cup of spaghetti is not enough for a cup of sauce

Once I have everything entered in my journal, I’ll be able to recall it without trouble. This week, I find myself spending a lot of time looking up and then entering stats for things like “Organic Veggie Straws” and “BBQ Chicken.”

I’m also keeping track of my workouts on the exercise journal. Does anyone out there know how many kcals are burned in a 30 minute kettlebell workout? I don’t want to use the “weight lifting” stats, because that just doesn’t seem to capture the entire workout.

That just about sums it up. (Get it? SUMS it up? Aw, forget it.) Of course, I’d love to hear from you… it keeps me motivated! Please leave a comment below in the “reply” box. I look forward to reading it!

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!

Kettletell's Updated Blogroll!

Angela C. — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 14:24:37 +0000

Hey, folks!

We finally put together a much more comprehensive list of websites of all things kettlecool. As you can see from the picture, I had a little help.

If you have a blog or website that’s related to mine, and you would like it to be featured here, just e-mail me at info@kettletell.com. Conversely, if your site is linked, but, hey, you don’t want random people checking you out, you can e-mail me, too!

Have a wonderful weekend, with lots of aloha!