Thursday, February 16, 2012

So the Bet is Over


So the bet is over…three days in and my competition dropped out due to personal reasons. However, I decided to continue on with the challenge because I like the results that I’ve been getting. Since my goal isn’t weight loss, I haven’t been counting calories. My major concern has been making sure that my body gets the appropriate amount of vitamins and minerals. So I have increased my daily veggie and fruit servings. I’ve been trying to get my servings as close as possible to the food pyramid…which has actually been changed to a big plate. I have also cut back on the processed sugar. Since I have been out of my parents’ house I haven’t had anyone to tell me “No,” so I have been eating some sweet ridiculousness daily as well as eating out. I haven’t stopped eating out, but I have changed what I eat when I dine out. I don’t go to my usual fast food joints and order greasy burgers and fries. I stick with veggies, seafood, and chicken---usually baked or grilled.  I’m pretty sure that my calorie intake has inadvertently taken a nosedive.
Dinnertime!! Salmon and Spinach
Snackin'!! Strawberries, Blueberries and Granola over Vanilla Yogurt
In addition to changing my diet, I’ve also started to add physical activity to my weekly routine. This wasn’t part of the original bet, I just felt like it. One free weekend (these are a rarity for me) I decided to try yoga. I went to a yoga studio in Galveston---it had an unexpected effect. I freaking loved it! I tried yoga a couple of times when I was younger, but wasn’t really feeling it. Recently I needed to de-stress and as God would have it yoga is the only exercise class that I could fit into my schedule. After that one Saturday, I enjoyed it so much that I found a yoga studio ten minutes away and bought a yoga mat. I’m digging the peaceful and at times challenging workout.
Yoga time!
Since I can only take my yoga class once a week, I’ve been searching for other ways to become more physically active. I happen to catch a clip of Kelly Rowland on Chelsea Lately and she was talking about her new workout video. Kelly Rowland has an awesome body and I liked to think we have a similar body type aside from her enviable abs, new boobies, etc. So I did something I don’t normally do….I purchased a workout tape.  I just got my Sexy Abs workout DVD in the mail and it was on and popping literally. I am sooooo out of shape. I don’t even think I made it half-way through the damn video. And I was reminded why I haven’t worked out in eons. My natural inclination is to give up and resume my exercise-less life, but I won’t! I will forge on and hopefully get better.
It's on and popping!
All in all, I have had more energy, before I would feel fatigue off and on throughout the day. I haven’t had that feeling since I’ve changed my diet. Since I stop eating when I am satisfied and not “full,” I also don’t have that “overstuffed” feeling that usually brings on a case of the “-itis” with it. Lastly, my mood has improved. This may also have been brought on by my weekly yoga, but it feels as though I have found inner peace among all of the chaos of life…I like this!


Ms. Jas