Spring Cleaning: Week One Health and Fitness

I had to skip Monday Mutterings this week because I was just so wiped out after work yesterday.  My students are writing their research papers, which are due Friday, and I think I get more stressed out than them.

 

So, this Sunday was the official start of The Domestic Witch's Spring Cleaning event.  Week one focuses on health and fitness/well being.  I've been actively going to the gym for about a year now, but this year I really want to see the results.  I've lost about 30lbs since I started, but to me, I still look the same.  I've only dropped one pant size, which is 4 sizes away from my goal.  My personal trainer gave me this book to help with my eating habits and I've found that it's pretty helpful.  Honestly, I would not buy it for myself because the first 5 chapters talk about general health and I don't really need it.  If you are interested and have been into fitness for a while, I would just check it out from the library.  However, if you are a beginner, I would pick up a copy from the bookstore.  The diet comes from Prevention magazine, so you may also want to flip through a copy of that before doing anything.

The core of the diet is eating four meals a day.  Each meal should be no more than 400 calories and should contain a MUFA.  Meals should be spaced no more than 4 hours apart but no sooner than 2.  It has honetly helped me a lot.  I was never a big breakfast eater, but now that I've been forcing it upon myself, I feel that I'm less hungry and exhausted when I get to work.  I usually make myself a protein shake (I use EAS powder) with skim milk (I hate it with water - yuck!) in the morning and drink it on my drive to work.  I then follow it up with my coffee.  It really helps keep me full until lunch time.

My biggest hurdle to overcome to get myself back into shape is getting to the gym more often.  I see my personal trainer twice a week but I need to be more diligent about going to the classes on the days I don't see her.  It's hard because I'm working as a full time teacher, going to grad school and all of that other life stuff that tends to get in the way.  I'm seeing the trainer again on Thursday this week, so I'm planning to go to a Mixed aerobics class tonight at the gym.  Tomorrow, I'm in grad school and won't be home until 7:30.  If it isn't raining, I may take the bike out with the hubby or walk the dog around the block a few times and end my night on the eliptical my Dad brought home.  Next week will be a much easier time at the gym because I'm off from work (YAY for spring break!).  I will be able to go the gym in the mornings and afternoons.

I'm motivated!  Let's hope it doesn't wear off!