I am about to feel a little bad about what I am going to write, but I believe it's necessary.
I was stopped at a traffic light this morning and watched an attractive but very large woman stand over a trash can stuffing food in her mouth.
I thought to myself that I had no idea what this woman's worries were, I have no idea what thoughts drive her, and I have no idea what pain she faces each day, but I do know that if she respected her body a little bit more, at least in terms of what she ate and where she ate, she might even enjoy the taste of that pastry she was so furiously consuming.
It's far beyond me to dictate what people do with their lives, perhaps some people don't even care, but when you are struck with the choice of making a decision that could greatly increase the quality of your life, I would assume that most of us would want to choose that.
It's not just what foods you decide to consume, it's also about including activity in your life, recovery time, proper sleep, and mental awareness of the whole picture.
It all goes back to good in gets good out, but bad in gets bad out. I constantly return to this quote I once read, "Nothing tastes as good as lean and fit feels."
I'm not sure about you, but I'd like to be an active and healthy person for as long as possible.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Keep It Going
Very few of us have the constant energy of the Energizer Bunny Rabbit, I know I can even get a little lazy, but consistency is the basis of any program you follow. Yes, any program.
What is consistency? Sounds like a relatively easy word to define, I'm sure most of us can do it, but actually sticking to it seems to be the hard part.
According to Webster, consistency is, the steadfast adherence to the same principles, course, form, etc.
So why is it we have such a hard time holding true and being consistent?
-Maybe your workout never gets any easier, truth be told I don't think you should ever be able to say a workout was easy.
-Maybe you've run out of time or other things are clogging up your schedule. Schedule your workouts weekly, and consider them to be appointments that cannot be missed.
-Maybe you've decided that you aren't seeing any results after two weeks. Give this a little bit of a chance to start to work for you. Getting out of shape didn't happen overnight, so getting back in shape isn't going to happen overnight either.
-Maybe you've given in to temptation. Don't! It's worth every ounce of your own discipline to stick to a plan for a minimum of 4-6 weeks to see the beginning of true results. Put down the donut and start moving.
Going back to the definition, the steadfast adherence, this is simple all you have to do is follow the plan. Commit to a planfor 4-6 weeks, that's all, it's a long enough period of time where you will start to see results, yet it's not so long that if you aren't seeing the results you want yo have wasted months of training on a method that doesn't work.
Focus on staying consistent, you'll see results.
What is consistency? Sounds like a relatively easy word to define, I'm sure most of us can do it, but actually sticking to it seems to be the hard part.
According to Webster, consistency is, the steadfast adherence to the same principles, course, form, etc.
So why is it we have such a hard time holding true and being consistent?
-Maybe your workout never gets any easier, truth be told I don't think you should ever be able to say a workout was easy.
-Maybe you've run out of time or other things are clogging up your schedule. Schedule your workouts weekly, and consider them to be appointments that cannot be missed.
-Maybe you've decided that you aren't seeing any results after two weeks. Give this a little bit of a chance to start to work for you. Getting out of shape didn't happen overnight, so getting back in shape isn't going to happen overnight either.
-Maybe you've given in to temptation. Don't! It's worth every ounce of your own discipline to stick to a plan for a minimum of 4-6 weeks to see the beginning of true results. Put down the donut and start moving.
Going back to the definition, the steadfast adherence, this is simple all you have to do is follow the plan. Commit to a planfor 4-6 weeks, that's all, it's a long enough period of time where you will start to see results, yet it's not so long that if you aren't seeing the results you want yo have wasted months of training on a method that doesn't work.
Focus on staying consistent, you'll see results.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Nutrition: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
I know it's an over-stated phrase, but it fits. Awhile back a friend challenged me to follow the Paleo Diet. The challenge was two-fold, one so he had additional people trying Paleo with him, and two he wanted to see if it could be done following a lacto/ovo vegetarian meal plan.
I agreed but for some different reasons. One, I wanted to cut some weight for a tournament. Two, I wanted to see if the Paleo Diet had any effect on my blood glucose levels and the amount of insulin that was required to maintain my ideal blood glucose level.
First things first, easy way to drop a few pounds of 'bloat' without having to workout harder (notice I say harder because we all need to workout, there is no replacement for that.) There was also no urge to 'cheat' with the Paleo Diet. Typically most nutrition plans (or diets) have cheat days and cheat meals built into the program, Dr John Berardi's Precision Nutrition does, and it allows room for human error as well as sanity. The interesting part was I didn't even feel like cheating. In five weeks I cheated once, and I wouldn't even call it that, I had a few homemade potato chips and a piece of birthday cake. Not too shabby, but like I said after the first few days there was no urge to fall off the wagon.
So why is it so hard for most people to stick to a nutrition plan, or better terms yet, choosing healthy options throughout the day, more or less part of their lifestyle? Through excuses I have heard I blame accountability. Really, who is holding you accountable and why? These are questions I can only answer for myself.
For me I wanted to make a new weight class for Jiu-Jitsu and I wanted to see if I could treat my diabetes better than an MD (no offense to any Docs out there.) Fact is I've used significantly less insulin, and I've had less highs and lows, that right there is worth it's weight in gold.
I have decided to make a few adjustments that work better for me, but nothing too drastic. It's a simple plan of eating lean proteins, lots of veggies, some fruit and nuts. I try to avoid protein bars but did rely on whey protein shakes about once a day.
I almost forgot, I've taken significantly less naps as well, higher energy levels, has done wonders for my training.
I agreed but for some different reasons. One, I wanted to cut some weight for a tournament. Two, I wanted to see if the Paleo Diet had any effect on my blood glucose levels and the amount of insulin that was required to maintain my ideal blood glucose level.
First things first, easy way to drop a few pounds of 'bloat' without having to workout harder (notice I say harder because we all need to workout, there is no replacement for that.) There was also no urge to 'cheat' with the Paleo Diet. Typically most nutrition plans (or diets) have cheat days and cheat meals built into the program, Dr John Berardi's Precision Nutrition does, and it allows room for human error as well as sanity. The interesting part was I didn't even feel like cheating. In five weeks I cheated once, and I wouldn't even call it that, I had a few homemade potato chips and a piece of birthday cake. Not too shabby, but like I said after the first few days there was no urge to fall off the wagon.
So why is it so hard for most people to stick to a nutrition plan, or better terms yet, choosing healthy options throughout the day, more or less part of their lifestyle? Through excuses I have heard I blame accountability. Really, who is holding you accountable and why? These are questions I can only answer for myself.
For me I wanted to make a new weight class for Jiu-Jitsu and I wanted to see if I could treat my diabetes better than an MD (no offense to any Docs out there.) Fact is I've used significantly less insulin, and I've had less highs and lows, that right there is worth it's weight in gold.
I have decided to make a few adjustments that work better for me, but nothing too drastic. It's a simple plan of eating lean proteins, lots of veggies, some fruit and nuts. I try to avoid protein bars but did rely on whey protein shakes about once a day.
I almost forgot, I've taken significantly less naps as well, higher energy levels, has done wonders for my training.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
90 lbs Will Continue To Haunt Me
I'm still working on that 90 lbs Turkish Get Up, can get to standing, but can't get back down. 80 lbs is up and down with some concentration. There's just something about those extra 10 lbs. I think it's the weight on the wrist, not necessarily the weight itself. So I've been working on long sets of TGUs with the 24kg, 28kg, and 32kg, as well as just holding the 90 lb KB to get used to the weight. Looking to do it by April/May time frame.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
A great movie no doubt, but today's post is more about the effort it takes to consume healthy foods while on the go. Here's just a few small tips I use on how to make it work while jetting accross the country and back.
As some of you may or may not know, I tend to travel most weekends for work. Traveling can be tough on your nutrition; constant eating out, less than healthy food options, eating less frequently and bigger portions, and then some. It’s equally as difficult to rely solely on protein bars and meal replacement drinks. Regardless of flying or driving, you spend a lot time sitting and are often at the mercy of fast food, convenience stores, chain restaurants, and the like. Not only is it mostly unhealthy, but it’s also expensive.
I’ve made a few changes to my travel ways to side step all this nonsense and keep my nutrition on track during these weekend traveling excursions. First, is to cook up some lean protein the day before and place in small storage bags. In addition to this I take a small storage bag of mixed nuts, as well as a piece or two of fruit and/or cut vegetables.
I don’t end up starving from trying to stay away from the bad stuff, and I don’t feel like crap because I’ve eaten the bad stuff, and I’ve saved about $20 on crappy airport food. Depending on how much you’ve packed and when you leave during the day, you’ll also have some left over food to last you through the first day of your trip.
Once I’m settled I find the local grocery store and pick up some of the same things I’ve packed minus those that need cooking.
Do you have any food travel suggestions?
As some of you may or may not know, I tend to travel most weekends for work. Traveling can be tough on your nutrition; constant eating out, less than healthy food options, eating less frequently and bigger portions, and then some. It’s equally as difficult to rely solely on protein bars and meal replacement drinks. Regardless of flying or driving, you spend a lot time sitting and are often at the mercy of fast food, convenience stores, chain restaurants, and the like. Not only is it mostly unhealthy, but it’s also expensive.
I’ve made a few changes to my travel ways to side step all this nonsense and keep my nutrition on track during these weekend traveling excursions. First, is to cook up some lean protein the day before and place in small storage bags. In addition to this I take a small storage bag of mixed nuts, as well as a piece or two of fruit and/or cut vegetables.
I don’t end up starving from trying to stay away from the bad stuff, and I don’t feel like crap because I’ve eaten the bad stuff, and I’ve saved about $20 on crappy airport food. Depending on how much you’ve packed and when you leave during the day, you’ll also have some left over food to last you through the first day of your trip.
Once I’m settled I find the local grocery store and pick up some of the same things I’ve packed minus those that need cooking.
Do you have any food travel suggestions?
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