Friday, October 29, 2010

Out of a Rut!

October 29, 2010                                              Weight : 187.25 lbs

Move on up towards your destination....move on up !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWooVf17PBQ

In the beginning of the week, I was mentally in a rut !  I permitted negative energy of others to enter into my personal sphere siphoning off the positive  energy and outlook that I have had since embarking on this healthy program. No more !  I can't control the actions of others but I can control my mind and my body!  I feel much better now and I am back on track.

Friday, October 22, 2010

***** Dining At Whole Foods!

October 22, 2010                                            Weight  188 lbs

Can't Do Much Better Than This!
A home cooked, healthy dinner can be incredibly delicious and can rival any of the best restaurants in NYC.

And the menu is....
  • Dover Sole marinated in Mediterranean Herbs
  • Broccoli Rabe sauteed in Garlic
  • Bok Choy with Tamari Sauce
  • Portobello Steak Mushrooms
  • Water with a slice of lemon
  • Dessert - Pineapple with strawberries
Who is coming over for dinner?

PS:  I was so excited about working out this morning, I hit the roads at 3.45 am for a 3 1/2 mile speed walk listening to hip-hop on my I-Pod.  Very cool or rather, quite chilly!!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Breakthrough .....Yes !!!!

October 20, 2010                               Weight    189 lbs

Discipline and Focus!
I have started to incorporate the tightening of my abs as I engage in speed walking  without varying my pace.  Quite tricky to do but I am slowly started to see my mid section get a little toner. I have also started doing 50 crunches a day.

Frustration

October 13 to October 19, 2010                            Weight between 191 and 190

Patience is a Virtue! 
Can't get the scale to move and it is really bothering me.  But, I reached the conclusion that my body simply needs to get "used to" this new weight for a period and then I will continue dropping weight but at a slower pace.

One Month Progress Report

October 12, 2010                                     Weight   191.75 lbs

The Secret to Good Health!
The secret is to try to only have healthy, natural things to eat, drinks lots of water and stay completely away from processed foods.

Very pleased with progress.  I have almost reached by midpoint goal losing about 14 lbs.  Overall  goal is to reach 175 lbs with a toned and healthy body.  Exercise is probably 15% of the success and diet 85%. However, exercise is critical to keep one's metabolism high.  I am committed to meeting my objective and then maintaining it.

Any cheating ?  Well, just a little.  Since I started this program, I had four glasses of wine and three alcoholic beverages and 2 cookies !!!!  BUT, no coffee, no red meat, no white bread, no pasta, no artificial sweeteners, no ice cream, very little cheese, no cake and no pizza ( at  tough one for me !)

Konsyl.....Say What Again!

Konsyl is a natural fiber supplement products that insures regularity.  You can purchase at CVS, Walgreens or most supermarkets.  Simply mix a small scoop of this product into a shaker filled with 2 oz of orange juice and 6 oz of water.  Shake and drink quickly.  I would not classify this drink as a "delicious" one but it is extremely effective.

Sari's Smoothie !

This is a delicious and healthy way to start your day.  This drink is fortified with vitamins and provides you with energy to last until you to lunchtime.  Try it ....you will be glad you did.

Recipe
Crushed Ice
Almond Milk
Spring Water (vary based on desired consistency)
Banana
Mango
1 Scoop of Ground Flax Seed
1 Tablespoon of raw Ground Cacao Nibs (Grind in a nut grinder)
Freshly ground Ginger Root
Whole Leaf of Swiss Chard
1 Teaspoon of Brewer's Yeast
Ground Cinnamon

Enjoy !

A Muscle Injury

October 1, 2010                                          Weight 196 lbs

OUCH!
I have no idea how I received a muscle related rib injury.  No fall at all. Hurts to breathe deep.  I guess its my body telling me to take a little break so that's exactly what I did.  Three days of no exercise and the fourth day was simply a nice and easy one mile walk.

Introduction of the Ellipitcal

September 28, 2010                                         Weight   198 lbs

I Like to Move It, Move It!
I am fortunate to have some exercise equipment in my basement but it has not been used in some time.  Started at 30 minutes, Level 12 and within a couple of days, I cranked out 45 minutes at level 14.  Had a few nice workouts and started to really stretch after exercising.  Stretching is a critical component to one's exercise regimen.

Detoxification

September 27, 2010                                                      Weight 198.00

Old Habits are Easy to Break!
My body has naturally detoxed itself from the cravings of sweets, alcohol and coffee.  I find this UNBELIEVABLE!  I have been drinking coffee daily since I was five years old. Yes, five years old. Until recently, I drank at least three cups of coffee a day and I now have NO craving for caffeine.  Same is true for the  most part with sweets.  After dinner, I would usually take a stroll to the "cookie cabinet" to get a desert fix.  No more urge to do so.  Lastly, it was a normal to have two glasses of wine with dinner or one glass of wine and an alcoholic beverage.  This habit has been broken completely!

Yes, it takes some discipline and focus, but it is indeed possible and absolutely worth it !

Bike from New York to Boston

September 19                                                  Weight 200 lbs

Well, Not Exactly. . . 
Shipped my bike down to Florida and for seven days in a row, cycled along the Hollywood Boardwalk overlooking the Atlantic Ocean to a wonderful State Park where I did laps around absolutely beautiful vegetation.  Each day, the route was 31 miles.  Additionally, on two of the days, I speed walked 4 miles.  Upon returning to NY, I did one final ride of 24 miles on the gorgeous North County Trails in Westchester County.  All said, 210 miles.  Like I said, it's like riding from New York to Boston!

Body is starting to get toned !  Yeah !

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Chard.....Say What?

September 15, 2010                                         Weight 202.75

The Delicious Tastes of Nature!
Well, I must share with you that until this week, I had no clue what chard was.  It's a wonderful dark, delicious green leaf which tastes very good with humus on it !  A wonderful lunch with a juicy nectarine.

Starting to wean myself off of sweets.  Not so easy !!!!

Started speed walking and stretching.  Felt good about this.

Personal Commitments

September 14, 2010                                        Weight 204.25

Healthy Choices for a Healthy Body!
In order to achieve my objective, I made the following commitments:  No red meat, no junk food, no alcohol, no pasta, no white bread, lots of vegetables, no pizza (very tough), very little cheese, lots of fruit, lots of water, no coffee, no artificial sweeteners and no processed foods.  Exercise daily for about one hour to keep metabolism moving.  And here we go...

Walked 2 1/2 miles today...nice and slow.

Let the process begin....

September 13, 2010                                          Starting Weight    205.5

In The Beginning...
Began Integrative Nutrition Program with Sari Dennis.  Did not know what to expect, but very excited about the prospect of losing weight, feeling better and having increased energy.