Start Of Week Two Of Challenge

Week Two on the January Challenge and All going to plan.

Today I got to gym a little later than usual as I got stuck in front of my computer reading everyone on my groups blog entry after the weekend, and left a comment.

It's really great that everyone is being so dedicated to this challenge, keeps me motivated as well to stick to it...and now planning for February's challenge for the ladies.

Losing weight is the main reason the women have joined my group

Most train but as its the New Year we all needed something to give us that push to get going again and from the response on group its working.

Today I went to gym at minus 3.5 degrees, very icy outdoors.

The gym was once again all smelly and closed up...not one window open which I find so hard when training as I sweat so much it becomes very uncomfortable.

Did 30 mins on the Elliptical as I planned

Then added the extra 15 mins I have set out for myself by running on the treadmill for 15 mins without walking in between like I did last week.

Oh yes, I also did 200 sit ups as this week I intend to do at least 100 daily.

Tomorrow its my treadmill day....

Want to try get out earlier tomorrow morning as the whole day is over if I only get going to gym at 11pm, then shower and have lunch...cant get much done after that and I still have my daughter here with me till Thursday so want to get out and about with her before she leaves.

Tomorrow I plan to run..

Walk One minute, run 5, for 45 mins...

First Week On Challenge

The first photo was taken of me the day before I left Cape Town...Note the summer outfit I am wearing, not possibly could this photo have been taken now in freezing cold Germany!!

I love this photo as I was putting some lip gloss on, my little granddaughter was lying in front of me on the bed while my daughter picked up my camera and captured this shot...I love it!

Okay now back to business :)

First of all...I had my run/stride tested yesterday in Cologne and was told my feet are neutral, so no problems there...I was lead to believe that there might be a problem with my one foot due to the IT band problem I was * meant * to be having, reason I lay off training for so long.

Hubby bought me a new pair of running shoes...a pair that was suggested for me after having my feet/stride tested by the sales consultant who helped us.

And note...the color...not chosen by me but by him and I love it!!

PINK and white...

The first week of my online group's challenge is now behind me...I did find getting back to training a huge struggle, with my fitness level as it has suffered with me not training due to the holiday and then being told to take off...but today I felt good and could feel that I will be back very soon to the level I was before I slowed down. I have decided to add no pressure to myself on reaching this goal, but to do what I feel is the right thing for me right now and that is to stick with doing cardio for the month of January.

My training this week was :

Monday ~ Ran for 6km in 43 mins

Tuesday ~ Elliptical for 10.7km in 30 mins

Wednesday ~ Cycled for 11.7km in 30 mins and did 25o Ab workout

Thursday ~ Ran for 6.72km in 53 mins

Friday ~ Elliptical for 10.5km in 30 mins and 150 Ab workout

Saturday ~ One day a week off ( walked around Koln )

Sunday ~ Interval running for 8km in 55 mins

Total of 54 kilometers for this week.

Stuck to goal of Run, Elliptical and one cycle per week.
This week my goals are as follows.

I am going to continue with the cardio as planned but am going to add 15 extra minutes of cardio to my 30 mins goal this week.

I will do 100 Ab workout daily

I will continue to count my points but now adding the calorie counting as well for the month of January...

I have 29 points a day and 1 400 calories per day....

My goal is to lose 5kg's...in what every length of time it takes me....so making sure I stay accountable from my side and my body has to do the rest.

January Challenge keeps me ACTIVE

I have been training every day since I started the January fitness challenge of 30 mins a day.

I am so grateful for this challenge as there are days I really have not been in the mood and knowing I have all the other ladies waiting to hear if I completed it gives me that extra push as I hope it does to all the ladies who have joined the online group challenge.

Monday I ran

Tuesday the elliptical

Wednesday the indoor bike at home with 250 abs

Today I ran 5 mins and walked 5 mins for 53 mins.

I worked out today why my fitness level is back to zero...

When I got to Cape Town I managed to run a few times a week, then there were three weeks where I only got out once a week then the 4 weeks of no training due to Dr's orders...so that 7 weeks!!!

I honestly feel like a beginner again, my breathing is such a struggle, my HR is still low when I workout which is a good sign but otherwise everything is like a beginner.

I know I will get there again, and honestly look forward to that.

I normally do my warm up at level 9 on the treadmill and build up to level 12

Now I am warming up at level 8 and building up to level 9

I am going to start by running for 4 mins and walking for one....today was 5 mins, 5 mins.

Tomorrow its the Elliptical day....

Eating wise I am good...

Staying within my 29 Points a day

Doing the Clean Eating Plan

Staying off sugar

Having 2 fruits per day ( Apple, Kiwi, or Blueberries )

No white stuff

NOT DRINKING ENOUGH WATER..due to the cold weather...I have to work on this as I know water is very important.

My make up for New Years Eve was done by a 15 year old who did the smoky eyes look, it was fun for the event, but not sure I could get them like that again...

Plan Of Action For January

This was me on New Year's Eve saying goodbye to 2010

What a year it's been for me

A year where I was diagnosed with MS

And

A year where I managed to maintain my weight.

Also a year I got to go home twice to see my family

It was a year filled with many emotions and I never turned to food during 2010 for comfort.

Its was a year I learned so much about living a Healthy Lifestyle.

This was me yesterday....

Day 3 on my groups challenge, we had to post a photo of ourselves for the start, this was mine...

I went to gym yesterday with my hubby and ran on the treadmill for 5 km and walked for 1km

I felt so unfit, like a beginner again

I know from past experience it takes two weeks to get one's fitness level back

I had to take 4 weeks off ( Doctors orders )

I have not taken off any time for the last two years and while running yesterday I knew why...

Starting over is NO fun...

While pounding the treadmill yesterday at a very easy pace ( 8 - 9 ) it came to me what I need to do....I have mentioned that I want to spend more time doing weights this year...that has not changed, I still want to do that, but for now I need to focus on two area's so going to set them out for January...

1. Get my fitness level back to where it was before I was told to take a break

2. Lose the small amount of weight I gained over the Christmas and New Year period

How am I going to do this....

1. Clean Eating plan with no sugar and white stuff

2. Cardio only for January

I will run on treadmill one day, the next do the elliptical ~ this way I give my body variation but am still getting my cardio up....I plan to do a cycle once a week on the weekends.

I will do no less than 30 mins at each session, if I can do more then will do so, but 30 mins is January's challenge.

I am doing the Clean Eating plan while checking the Point Value for January to make sure I am not eating more than I should ~ I really want to get rid of weight gained ~

Finally I feel I have direction....and a plan of action...

Today I hit the Elliptical

First Of January ~ Challenge has started

My online group January Challenge started today.

So pleased to see so many who did their 30 mins and more today...

Its a wonderful way to start off the new year....1.1.11 ~ never going to have that one again!

There is still time for you to join * the crazy bunch *

Go over to the link on the side of my blog ( Seeking A Healthy Lifestyle ) and join up.

The rules are as follows.

Post a photo of yourself taken this week in any gear

Weigh yourself and let us know how much you want to lose, what you currently weigh is not mentioned on group, only how much you want to lose to reach your goal weight.

You must do 30 mins of any type of training 6x a week with one day rest...

You can blog this daily workout on group for extra motivation, or pop by once a week to log in your weeks workout in one entry

This challenge is to get us all off our butts and get moving again after the festive season..

February's challenge will get a little more involved and slowly we will add to reach 60 mins workout 5/6 days a week

Today I started the challenge by walking with my family in the snow for one hour and 45 mins...parts of this walk were a little slower than other parts, some parts were very slippery and steep, some where uphill, but all in snow.

It was not much of a workout, but I did my 30 mins of *something* today.

I have gained some weight since I arrived back home as have been eating everything I feel like, not considering sugar or fats etc...so am sitting with a few kgs extra on my body...NO, am not happy about this and YES, will get it off....started today.

Challenge for January 2011

My online group called SEEKING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE has a fitness challenge for January 2011

If you are keen to do this challenge please visit my group and sign up

The rules are as follows.

1. Take a photo of yourself in full length

2. Weigh yourself

3. Come to group and download photo with starting weight for 2011

4. Mention your goal weight you desire

5. Mention your goals to obtain this weight

6. Make a commitment to all on group to share your journey

Your challenge for January 2011 is:

TRAIN FOR 30 MINS A DAY....one day of rest allowed per week

1. Let me know if you are up for this challenge

2. I want you to blog daily as to what your did for your 30mins each day

Training could be...

Weights

Abs

Walking

Skipping

Cycling

Running

Toning

Ball workout

Yoga

Stretching

Let's start 2011 on the right foot.

I'M READY

ARE YOU???

Update entry

Its been a while since I last updated this blog of mine, reason being...have not trained since I was told to rest until 2nd week in January 2011...so am doing just that and feeling very unfit I must say...but will hang in there till after Christmas and New Year before hitting the gym as I will not be running in the snow and sludge ~ this is still too foreign for me ~ thankfully I had two extra months of running in the sunshine so not complaining.

Sugar wise I have not been as strict...I am trying to stick to foods without sugar, no sugar in my coffee, but I have had a few blocks of chocolate, my daughter is eating chocolate and ice cream around me, so having to pull out all the stops not to join her whenever she eats these sort of things.

Coming home and having no food in the house was also tough as I ate whatever there was and could not worry too much about sugar...

I am eating one fruit and day and loving it....cant wait till I can have at least two fruits a day...:)

I subscribed to the Oxygen Magazine this evening...am excited as I remember from paging though them back in Cape Town that they offered a lot of variety..and thats what I am looking for right now. I feel the Shape no longer satisfies me....so moving on. ( hehehe )

I still want to sit and write down my goals in my personal life for 2011 and when it comes to fitness and financial as well....there are many things I want to do this coming year....one that I know for sure is that I want to do more weight training and run 3x a week instead of daily, I also want to get my photography business off the ground and I want to learn the German language...the other smaller goals I have to give more thought to before I write them down.

Thankfully this coming year I don't have a number I want to reach weight wise, I am satisfied where I am right now but want to tone my body up and make it the best body I can for myself.

When it comes to my MS...I don't want to start medication this year....so to convince everyone else on this is still a battle I have to face, when I mention this to my hubby he freaks and says really nasty things, as I don't have his support in not going the medication route. I want to go the holistic route as I have no symptoms that I live with....but as I said, this area still needs lots of thought.

Felt BAD

I leave Cape Town tomorrow...back to Germany after spending 8 weeks in summer time, I have to re-adjust to the cold and winter...not going to be easy for me as I am a summer person coming from Africa...

When I left Germany the 25th October I was still managing to run outdoors with my running team...but hear from them that they all have stopped as too much snow and too cold...

They are waiting for me to return so I can give them cardio and toning workouts 2x a week...in the New Year of course...

We put my gym membership on hold from November till end of December, so will only be back to running and the treadmill from the 3rd January when my family who are coming over to spend Christmas and New Year with us leave for Cape Town...

For the last few days I have been feeling terrible from time to time..

Low energy and also very dizzy...

I automatically thought it was my MS showing it's nasty head..

Went back to the Kino, who explained that I was anemic and that my blood sugar levels were very low as I was not eating enough or often enough.

I was put on Iron pills and immediately felt a huge difference.

I am also back to eating small meals every 4 hours ( should be 3 hours ) which is also helping the blood pressure situation..

I also started adding one apple to my day as from yesterday...

Am now able to drink my coffee without sugar...honey...just coffee and milk, this is HUGE achievement for me.

The next time I update this blog will be when I am back and settled back into my *other* life.

Tomorrow is going to be a very sad day for me

I have to leave my family and my adorable grandchildren behind..

And now my Princess Nunu who I am so madly in love with...

She and I have spend the last two nights together while my daughter had a good nights sleep

I loved out bonding time together..my precious Nunu...x

Information....

If you are reading via your google reader and see the fruit list has been deleted...it was meant for my Weight loss group and not my blog...sorry!

I found this very interesting and informative, I do hope you will as well....

Diet and Weight Loss Tutorial

When we eat, our body converts digestible carbohydrates into blood sugar (glucose), our main source of energy. Our blood sugar level can affect how hungry and how energetic we feel, both important factors when we are watching how we eat and exercise. It also determines whether we burn fat or store it.

Our pancreas creates a hormone called insulin that transports blood sugar into our body's cells where it is used for energy. When we eat refined grains that have had most of their fiber stripped away, sugar, or other carbohydrate-rich foods that are quickly processed into blood sugar, the pancreas goes into overtime to produce the insulin necessary for all this blood sugar to be used for energy. This insulin surge tells our body that plenty of energy is readily available and that it should stop burning fat and start storing it.

However, the greater concern with the insulin surge is not that it tells our body to start storing fat. Whatever we eat and don't burn up eventually gets turned into fat anyway.

The greater concern is that the insulin surge causes too much blood sugar to be transported out of our blood and this results in our blood sugar and insulin levels dropping below normal. This leaves us feeling tired and hungry and wanting to eat more. The unfortunate result of this scenario is that it makes us want to eat something else with a high sugar content. When we do, we start the cycle all over again.

What to Watch For

• Simple Carbohydrates: Because of their small molecular size, simple carbohydrates can be metabolized quickly and are therefore most likely to cause an insulin surge.

Simple carbohydrates include the various forms of sugar, such as sucrose (table sugar), fructose (fruit sugar), lactose (dairy sugar), and glucose (blood sugar). Watch for the "-ose" ending.

• Hidden Sugar in Processed Foods: Watch for "hidden" sugar in processed foods like bread, ketchup, salad dressing, canned fruit, applesauce, peanut butter, and soups.
• Sugar in Beverages: Be aware of the amount of sugar in beverages, especially coffee and soda pop. It can add up quickly, and most such drinks aren't filling.
• Fat-Free Products: Sugar is often used to replace the flavor that is lost when the fat is removed. And as if that's not bad enough, without any fat to slow it down the sugar is absorbed into your blood faster.
• Cereal Box Claims of Less Sugar: Many newer cereals do contain less sugar, but the calories, carbohydrates, fat, fiber and other nutrients are almost identical to the full-sugar cereals. The manufacturers have simply replaced sugar with other refined, simple carbohydrates.
• No Sugar Added: It doesn't mean that the product doesn't naturally contain a lot of sugar. 100% fruit products often contain concentrated fruit juice, still another form of fructose or sugar.

Table sugar (sucrose) is often said to provide "empty calories" because it has no nutritional value other than providing fuel for energy. Honey and other more natural sugars, on the other hand, are often considered to be healthier because of the trace vitamins and minerals they provide. Still, for weight loss purposes, all of these sweeteners can simply be treated as sugar.

What You Can Do

It is also important to understand what happens when you skip a meal or go on a crash diet. When you skip a meal your metabolism slows to conserve your energy. And when you lose weight too quickly for a few days, your body thinks it is threatened with starvation and goes into survival mode. It fights to conserve your fat stores, and any weight loss comes mostly from water and muscle.

Regulating your blood sugar level is the most effective way to maintain your fat-burning capacity. Never skip a meal, especially breakfast, and eat healthy snacks between meals. Eating frequently prevents hunger pangs and the binges that follow, provides consistent energy, and may be the single most effective way to maintain metabolism efficiency.

When you will be away from home or work, plan your snacks and take them along so that you will be able to eat regularly and won't be tempted by junk food. This may be good advice for people who stay at home, too.

But remember that it was probably snacking between meals that caused you to become overweight in the first place. It will be very important that any snacks are healthy; that they are pre-portioned so you won't be tempted to overeat; and that meal sizes are reduced to compensate for the additional calories the snacks provide.

High fiber snacks and meals also help to regulate your blood sugar level. The fiber slows down glucose absorption and your rate of digestion, keeping your blood sugar level more consistent and warding off feelings of hunger. This makes eating apples and oranges a better choice than drinking (pulp free) apple and orange juice.

My thoughts on Sugar

Saturday the 12 December, my little grandson celebrated his 2nd birthday

I was so happy to be here, I had planned my trip to be here for the birth of my newest grandchild and the 2nd birthday of one of my other grandchildren...

Now before Christmas I am having to think of packing my bags and returning to my life with my husband in Germany...

I have discovered that I am the worst writer ever, or really don't explain myself very well when I do a blog entry, cause after reading the comments after my two last entries I see such confusion that I have decided to try again...to write it as simply as I am able, to get you the reader to understand what I am saying, where I am coming from....so let me try again.

Remember this is about ME....

MY blog, so nothing I say here is suggested for anyone else...

but for me.

1. I was diagnosed with Candida

2. It was suggested I give up ALL sugars as Candida loves sugar

3. 10 days without sugar I was told my body is doing so well to continue for another 3 months

4. First month without fruit, and then to start adding one fruit a day ( Apples, Berries, Kiwi's )

I do have to say that this is fine for me, I do think when you are diagnosed with something and want it cleared you will do whatever it takes, so for someone like myself who could never go without fruit, I am saying, you can go without fruit when you HAVE to....when you don't have to its easy to say that you cant live without fruit...I have been there myself, so understand this...my point is only when one HAS to give something up for health reason's...YOU CAN.

Reading labels I think is good anyway....even if you are not looking for sugars added, but for all the other bad things put into our foods....

I then found after 10 days without sugar that my weight came down...so went back to do research on the effects of sugar on the body, read Tosca's book again with new founded eyes and have seen how bad SUGAR is for one...I'm not talking about fruit.....hidden sugars in so many foods...that is the area I am going to be looking into from now on.

I also mentioned that Europe launched the New Weight Watchers program a YEAR AGO and that I followed the program and gained...when I look at why I gained I see it was due to the sugar....

Yes, over eating on fruit and the hidden sugars in foods caused this. I loved melon and grapes and now see that those are filled with sugar and instead I should have eaten more apples, berries and kiwi's....I am not saying * Dont do WW * ~ I am a firm believer in the program, I lost all my weight following the WW program...but for me the new program meant I over ate on fruit cause it was free and gained...My thoughts were...* who gains weight eating fruit ?* but now I am more educated and know that it can happen...I still firmly believe in this program and if I had to do it again I would do it differently... I just wanted to warn other starting this program from my own experience ~ enjoy the fruit, but chose the fruit you eat wisely and don't over eat on them.

I do hope I have explained myself a little better this time...

I find it hard when I write an entry and then find the comments are more about you the reader than about me and what I am trying to say in my space. My intention is never to sway anyone from what program they are on, but just to share my journey and maybe somewhere you the reader can relate to my problems to your own journey and in a way I can be of some help...

I for example don't eat RED meat, have not for over 28 years...my choice, I will never suggest everyone else stop eating RED meat...this is where I am coming from when I write about my new journey giving up SUGARS.

Have an awesome Tuesday...