Wow does time fly!!
It is nearly 30 days since we started the SKOGG SYSTEM 60 day challenge, and really, it seems like we just started. I guess that's a good thing. To me that means that it has not been difficult. The workouts are fun, and the nutrition plan is easy to follow. Compared to other "diets" I've been on, there is a ton of food.
Yes, my nutrition plan is somewhere between 1200-1400 calories per day, which is a restricted diet. But because of the variety and type of food, and the fact that I'm eating 5 times per day, there is plenty to keep me satisfied.
Aside from the food, however, there are many other benefits of the SKOGG SYSTEM. One member told me yesterday that she was plagued with anxiety before she started the plan. In just 4 weeks, her anxiety attacks have completely stopped. She believes it is the elimination of sugar from her diet.
After yesterday's workout, another female member came out of the locker room with her sports bra on to show us her new, slim waistline. She was so happy, the delight was written across her face as she danced around the gym. I can't stop smiling as I think about it. :)
Another gentlemen confessed to me that he too followed crazy diets like mine in years past....of course to no avail. Yet this month, he lost 15 pounds.
And another member told me that she has been able to completely stop taking her depression medication. But there is more....she also can see her "six pack" for the first time in her life. Congratulations!
It is so incredibly fun and exciting to see the changes in the people at the gym. They are leaner and stronger. They are smiling and happy. They are healthier.
Michael and I have the best "jobs" in the world! We are blessed to be able to share our days with our members....our family.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Until tomorrow,
Sue
Friday, October 29, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Milestones and Rewards
Good Morning Portland and beyond. Today I hit a milestone. It has been years since I was under 150 pounds, and yesterday, :) big smile, I am there. I have been hovering over 150 for the past five months, and have not been able to get under....that is until now.
Hitting a Milestone deserves a reward, don't you think?
In the past, my reward would be a piece of cake, or pizza and beer, or dinner out, with a couple glasses of wine. Of course you can guess what happens next. Tomorrow, the scale will inch back over 150 and with that comes a feeling of defeat. Of course I will have to comfort myself....and why do you think comfort food was invented, just for these moments.
But not today!!!
The cycle of dieting and sabotage are over. I have lost many hundreds of pounds in my lifetime, only to find them again. This time they are gone for good. For once, my New Year's Resolution will not be weight loss. For once, I am going to be good to myself and stop this cycle.
So for today, my reward is going to be a pedicure. For you ladies out there, a manicure or pedicure is a great reward, or a new haircut to show off your leaner face, a pretty scarf, or a new pair of jeans. Guys, a pedicure is great if you have never gotten one, or how about a new putter, or a massage, or a ticket to a sporting event.
Reward yourself when you hit a milestone, congratulations are in order. Let's just keep those rewards calorie free.
The result will be......You, only stronger!
Until tomorrow,
Sue
Hitting a Milestone deserves a reward, don't you think?
In the past, my reward would be a piece of cake, or pizza and beer, or dinner out, with a couple glasses of wine. Of course you can guess what happens next. Tomorrow, the scale will inch back over 150 and with that comes a feeling of defeat. Of course I will have to comfort myself....and why do you think comfort food was invented, just for these moments.
But not today!!!
The cycle of dieting and sabotage are over. I have lost many hundreds of pounds in my lifetime, only to find them again. This time they are gone for good. For once, my New Year's Resolution will not be weight loss. For once, I am going to be good to myself and stop this cycle.
So for today, my reward is going to be a pedicure. For you ladies out there, a manicure or pedicure is a great reward, or a new haircut to show off your leaner face, a pretty scarf, or a new pair of jeans. Guys, a pedicure is great if you have never gotten one, or how about a new putter, or a massage, or a ticket to a sporting event.
Reward yourself when you hit a milestone, congratulations are in order. Let's just keep those rewards calorie free.
The result will be......You, only stronger!
Until tomorrow,
Sue
Monday, October 25, 2010
Somewhere Over the Rainbow!
Today was a totally awesome, spectacular, inspiring day!
Nothing extra special happened, in fact it started out kind of crappy. I got up at 4:10 for work, which is really not special. The wind was blowing hard, and rain was coming down in buckets when I got to the gym. Taught the 6-7-8-9- and 10:30 classes (which are always enjoyable), and finally around 12:30, I went home for a nap.
As I headed back to the gym around 3:00, the sun broke out of the clouds behind me, while it was raining in front of me. You guessed it....a HUGE rainbow came out directly in front of me. I mean HUGE. The bands of color were so vivid, well there are no words to describe it. But that wasn't all. The spray from all the vehicles in front of me turned into rainbows all over the highway. There were splashes of red, orange, yellow, indigo and violet surrounding me.....it was magical and beautiful.
This ordinary, gray, dull, dreary, Portland day became a totally awesome, spectacular day. So while I try not to be too philisophical in my writing, I can't help myself today. When things just aren't going your way, remember that behind every rain cloud there is a rainbow!
Have a totally awesome, spectacular, inspiring day!
Until tomorrow,
Sue
Nothing extra special happened, in fact it started out kind of crappy. I got up at 4:10 for work, which is really not special. The wind was blowing hard, and rain was coming down in buckets when I got to the gym. Taught the 6-7-8-9- and 10:30 classes (which are always enjoyable), and finally around 12:30, I went home for a nap.
As I headed back to the gym around 3:00, the sun broke out of the clouds behind me, while it was raining in front of me. You guessed it....a HUGE rainbow came out directly in front of me. I mean HUGE. The bands of color were so vivid, well there are no words to describe it. But that wasn't all. The spray from all the vehicles in front of me turned into rainbows all over the highway. There were splashes of red, orange, yellow, indigo and violet surrounding me.....it was magical and beautiful.
This ordinary, gray, dull, dreary, Portland day became a totally awesome, spectacular day. So while I try not to be too philisophical in my writing, I can't help myself today. When things just aren't going your way, remember that behind every rain cloud there is a rainbow!
Have a totally awesome, spectacular, inspiring day!
Until tomorrow,
Sue
Sunday, October 24, 2010
A Calorie IS NOT A Calorie!
Do you have memories taking up space in your head that don't belong there anymore? Those thoughts that have negative energy, that sap you of your self confidence? I know I do. My head is swimming with them. That was the past, and its time to let go of the memories, they are not serving me, and yours are not serving you. Here is my story:
* "Sue has a big butt." 1969
* "You need to diet. You're too big for gymnastics" 1971
* "Your body fat is in the obese category" 1987
* " We need lean people for the shoot, remember, the camera adds 5 pounds" 2010
In 1969, at 14 years old and 116 pounds, I started crash dieting. It was the result of the embarrassment I felt when two boys were talking about me. I really didn't know how to diet, just that my mother went on a diet and hardly ate anything. So that's what I did. No food all day at school, and a ground round patty with a tomato on top, cooked in the microwave for dinner.
Obviously that didn't work, because two years later, at 16 years old and 142 pounds, I was at it again. Eating boiled eggs at school lunch while the other kids had their burgers and pizza.
In 1987, I was stunned to learn that I was "Obese" (more than 30% body fat). Now that is a terrifying word. Yes, after having two children and a crappy marriage, I ballooned up to 174 pounds. My reaction this time was to enroll in a weight loss clinic at the hospital. In order to participate, you had to lose 20% of your body wt....oh yea, and pay $1000 per month. My goal wt.....128 pounds. This was a liquid diet of 800 calories per day. No solid food of any kind. During the three months on the diet, I was counseled about eating, and how to count calories. The main exercise that was recommended...walking.
So every day for three months, I walked 4 miles, drank my meals, and was losing wt. I did reach my goal weight of 128 pounds, with no muscle on my body....but I was skinny. That lasted about one week. I literally could not eat anything without gaining weight. Part of the problem with introducing food to my diet, was the diet counseling I received. This was a hospital, for heavens sake, and they told us that a calorie is a calorie, they are all the same. I desperately wanted to believe them, so for my first meal, I had a jelly donut. It stayed within my calorie count for that meal, so what was the harm. A calorie is a calorie.
It took me a couple of years to gain all the weight back, and then some. So believe it or not, I went through the program again.
So let's fast forward to 2006, the year of my marriage to Michael. He is so awesome, and so fit that I was overwhelmed by it. The thought of keeping up with him was overwhelming to me. Heck, I'm the chubby kid, so I didn't even try. I topped out at my highest weight ever in 2009 before the light came on.
Enter the Spinach Nutrition Plan. Michael and I worked on this plan for members who needed diet/nutrition counseling. I, however, didn't use it. Why?? Because I thought I already knew so much about diet and nutrition that I didn't need to, from three decades of reading, and trying, every diet that was currently the rage. But knowing and doing are two different things. Finally, I started to follow the Spinach Nutrition Plan to prove it works. Folks, it does!!
Here are my beginning photos compared to photos taken in July. They are not my official 60 day challenge pictures, but you will be able to see how following the Spinach Nutrition Plan can change your appearance. I lost 20 pounds before we started the 60 day challenge, using the plan.
I am not starving myself. In fact, I have trouble eating all the food. In addition, it tastes good. Seasonal fruits and vegetables are so fresh and sweet tasting, they make my mouth happy. The thought of a jelly donut does not even sound good to me anymore. The explosion of flavor in fresh berries is far more enticing.
I don't know if I will be ready for the next photo shoot, but frankly, I don't care. I am happy with my progress, and that's all that counts.
So stick with the plan. This is not a diet! This is a lifestyle.
Until tomorrow,
Sue
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh-My!
Today I spent the morning preparing for Halloween. It is one of my favorite "holidays". I am in the process of finishing our costumes for the Halloween Hunt in the Pearl. Spinach Gym is participating, and Michael and I, along with Erin and Aaron, will be dressed and ready to go with an obstacle course for the little goblins and ghouls to enjoy. So if you are in the neighborhood, stop by with your kids....if no kids, stop by anyway.
Part of the fun is carving the pumpkins. Yes, I still carve pumpkins every year, even though my kids are grown and gone.
One of the traditions I had with my kids was making toasted pumpkin seeds after we got done carving pumpkins. They are great, and will work with the Spinach Nutrition Plan.
Part of the fun is carving the pumpkins. Yes, I still carve pumpkins every year, even though my kids are grown and gone.
One of the traditions I had with my kids was making toasted pumpkin seeds after we got done carving pumpkins. They are great, and will work with the Spinach Nutrition Plan.
Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
Remove seeds from pumpkin with a spoon. Separate the seeds from the pulp....best way is to use your hands. Try to get them as clean as you can, but its ok if a little pumpkin is remaining.
Spread the pumpkin seeds on a cookie sheet and sprinkle peanut oil over them...Just enough to coat all the seeds. Bake in a 350 degree oven until they turn golden brown. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with sea salt.
They are great warm.
Hope you enjoy the pumpkin seeds! Have a great weekend!
Until tomorrow,
Sue
Friday, October 22, 2010
Wow, You Look Awesome!
Only 18 days of the 60 day challenge have passed, and it is amazing the change in people. Not just a physical change, but an emotional change. You can just feel it by the positive energy in the gym.
To some people, exercise is like a pill. They take it every day because they are supposed to. With traditional weight lifting, that becomes the norm. When we came to Portland 4 years ago, we joined a franchised gym. They did not have kettlebells, but lots of cardio machines and weight machines, along with free weights. No one was sweating like the members of Spinach do during a normal workout. And I feel pretty safe saying that if I went back there today, the people would still be doing their cardio, and still working out on their machines, and still would look exactly the same as they did 4 years ago. That is if the sheer boredom of their workouts didn't drive them away.
Congratulations to all of you for trying something new. Because our workouts are different every single day, our bodies will continue to change. And with that physical change comes the emotional change. We can see it in your walk. We can see it in your smile. We can see it in the friendship and camaraderie within the teams. We can see it surrounding us every day.
Thanks to all of you! It is making our "job" a complete joy.
You, only stronger
Until tomorrow,
Sue
To some people, exercise is like a pill. They take it every day because they are supposed to. With traditional weight lifting, that becomes the norm. When we came to Portland 4 years ago, we joined a franchised gym. They did not have kettlebells, but lots of cardio machines and weight machines, along with free weights. No one was sweating like the members of Spinach do during a normal workout. And I feel pretty safe saying that if I went back there today, the people would still be doing their cardio, and still working out on their machines, and still would look exactly the same as they did 4 years ago. That is if the sheer boredom of their workouts didn't drive them away.
Congratulations to all of you for trying something new. Because our workouts are different every single day, our bodies will continue to change. And with that physical change comes the emotional change. We can see it in your walk. We can see it in your smile. We can see it in the friendship and camaraderie within the teams. We can see it surrounding us every day.
Thanks to all of you! It is making our "job" a complete joy.
You, only stronger
Until tomorrow,
Sue
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Today is a Sick Day
Something I don't do well is stay home when I'm sick. I always feel like I'm letting someone down. In this case, Michael had to pick up my classes at the gym. Of course he is wonderful about it, but I always have a twinge of guilt when I stay home.
Truth is, I couldn't have gone in today anyway....stomach flu. So thank you Michael, for covering for me.
My post yesterday was about taking a break if your body is telling you to. Well, I guess that's what my body is telling me. Luckily, I was prepared. I had a bottle of Pedia Lyte in the pantry. When you are unable to eat or drink, your body loses its balance of electrolytes. What is an electrolyte in the body? In human health, electrolytes aid in a number of vital bodily processes. Many heart and nerve functions, muscle control and coordination, and the body's ability to absorb fluids all depend on a healthy balance of electrolytes. The most common electrolytes found in the human body are sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride and calcium.
Drinks such as Gatorade, Power Ade, and Pedia Lyte, are designed to replenish your electrolytes that are lost due to excessive sweating (ex: running a marathon), diarrhea, or vomiting. Anytime you become dehydrated, your electrolytes become out of balance. Replenishing your electrolytes is one step to recovery.
So, I recommend keeping a bottle of Gatorade, or Pedia Lyte in the pantry, just in case. When you are unable to leave the bathroom, its hard to go to the store and pick up a bottle.
Hope you are having a happy, healthy day!
Until tomorrow,
Sue
Truth is, I couldn't have gone in today anyway....stomach flu. So thank you Michael, for covering for me.
My post yesterday was about taking a break if your body is telling you to. Well, I guess that's what my body is telling me. Luckily, I was prepared. I had a bottle of Pedia Lyte in the pantry. When you are unable to eat or drink, your body loses its balance of electrolytes. What is an electrolyte in the body? In human health, electrolytes aid in a number of vital bodily processes. Many heart and nerve functions, muscle control and coordination, and the body's ability to absorb fluids all depend on a healthy balance of electrolytes. The most common electrolytes found in the human body are sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride and calcium.
Drinks such as Gatorade, Power Ade, and Pedia Lyte, are designed to replenish your electrolytes that are lost due to excessive sweating (ex: running a marathon), diarrhea, or vomiting. Anytime you become dehydrated, your electrolytes become out of balance. Replenishing your electrolytes is one step to recovery.
So, I recommend keeping a bottle of Gatorade, or Pedia Lyte in the pantry, just in case. When you are unable to leave the bathroom, its hard to go to the store and pick up a bottle.
Hope you are having a happy, healthy day!
Until tomorrow,
Sue
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Too Tired To Go To The Gym?
All of us have those days that we are just tired. It may be a hard week at work or school, a busy week with the kids, stress at work or home, yada-yada-yada. Sometimes your body is just telling you, "I need a rest". Don't worry about it, we all have those days.
So take a break! Listen to your body.
My workout schedule is two days on, one day off, two days on...and a rest for the weekend. Now, that doesn't mean I sit in front of the TV eating bon-bons on my day of rest, but my activity is cut down. Instead of a 60 min, high intensity kettlebell workout, do something fun.
Today is a beautiful Indian Summer here in Portland. Why not take the dog for a walk, if you don't have a dog, borrow a neighbors. Call a friend, and reconnect with a walk on the waterfront. How about picking apples with your kids? Or going to the pumpkin patch for your Halloween pumpkins?
Every Thursday night, I take a walk with my friend Katie. We both have demanding jobs, and families to attend to. Our Thursday walks are a way to decompress, get some exercise and fresh air (and in Portland, hopefully some sunshine once in awhile), and catch up with each other. Our walk is so much fun, we talk and laugh and giggle for an hour.
On the weekends, my friend Dana and I will hop in the car and explore the state of Oregon. Here is a picture of the two of us snowshoeing around Crystal Lake on Mt. Hood, and reaching the summit of a foothill in the Columbia River Valley.
There are so many fun adventures waiting for us, all we have to do is find them. Share them with your spouse, kids or friends....or sometimes it's just great to have alone time. Your "off" days will then be supporting your long-term goal of a healthy, strong, lean body.
You, only stronger!
Until tomorrow,
Sue
So take a break! Listen to your body.
My workout schedule is two days on, one day off, two days on...and a rest for the weekend. Now, that doesn't mean I sit in front of the TV eating bon-bons on my day of rest, but my activity is cut down. Instead of a 60 min, high intensity kettlebell workout, do something fun.
Today is a beautiful Indian Summer here in Portland. Why not take the dog for a walk, if you don't have a dog, borrow a neighbors. Call a friend, and reconnect with a walk on the waterfront. How about picking apples with your kids? Or going to the pumpkin patch for your Halloween pumpkins?
Every Thursday night, I take a walk with my friend Katie. We both have demanding jobs, and families to attend to. Our Thursday walks are a way to decompress, get some exercise and fresh air (and in Portland, hopefully some sunshine once in awhile), and catch up with each other. Our walk is so much fun, we talk and laugh and giggle for an hour.
On the weekends, my friend Dana and I will hop in the car and explore the state of Oregon. Here is a picture of the two of us snowshoeing around Crystal Lake on Mt. Hood, and reaching the summit of a foothill in the Columbia River Valley.
You, only stronger!
Until tomorrow,
Sue
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
But I Didn't Lose a Pound!
Hey folks, yesterday I talked about the fear, yet obsession of the scale. I totally get it! There have been days that I weigh myself in the morning, of course naked, before a drink of water, and hopefully after a BM. Then again after my 2:00 workout....because maybe I weigh less after sweating for an hour. Then again before bed, to calculate what I will weigh when I get up in the morning. What's up with that??
We had our weigh-in for the 60 Day Challenge last night. There was disappointment at the scale by folks who didn't lose as much weight as they hoped. But then during discussion, the truth began to emerge. Every single person on my team, whether they lost pounds or not, had a change in their body. This was after only two weeks on the Challenge. One member didn't lose weight. At first she was disappointed, but then she told me how she was looking for something to wear over the weekend, and for the heck of it tried on a pair of jeans hanging in her closet. She had not been able to wear them for two years, couldn't zip them up. But even though she didn't lose a pound, she was able to get them on, zip them up, and wear them this past weekend. Congrats Karen!!!
Personally, I stayed the same weight as last week. Of course I was disappointed. I am a Team Leader, and need to set a good example. But at the end of the night, Michael lifted my spirits. He told me he was looking at my butt as I leaned out the window to talk to a member on the street earlier that day, and was impressed with how much progress I made..that he could see my hamstrings. :-) I left the meeting elated, ready to face the next 46 days.
The moral of the story is......
Don't be a slave to the scale. Muscle weighs more than fat. If you have changed your diet, and are eating clean. If you are watching your portion size. If you are getting your 4 days of exercise in per week. If you are drinking your water. YOU WILL GET LEANER! And leaner means a stronger, healthier, more compact, you.
You, Only Stronger!
Stay the course,
Sue
We had our weigh-in for the 60 Day Challenge last night. There was disappointment at the scale by folks who didn't lose as much weight as they hoped. But then during discussion, the truth began to emerge. Every single person on my team, whether they lost pounds or not, had a change in their body. This was after only two weeks on the Challenge. One member didn't lose weight. At first she was disappointed, but then she told me how she was looking for something to wear over the weekend, and for the heck of it tried on a pair of jeans hanging in her closet. She had not been able to wear them for two years, couldn't zip them up. But even though she didn't lose a pound, she was able to get them on, zip them up, and wear them this past weekend. Congrats Karen!!!
Personally, I stayed the same weight as last week. Of course I was disappointed. I am a Team Leader, and need to set a good example. But at the end of the night, Michael lifted my spirits. He told me he was looking at my butt as I leaned out the window to talk to a member on the street earlier that day, and was impressed with how much progress I made..that he could see my hamstrings. :-) I left the meeting elated, ready to face the next 46 days.
The moral of the story is......
Don't be a slave to the scale. Muscle weighs more than fat. If you have changed your diet, and are eating clean. If you are watching your portion size. If you are getting your 4 days of exercise in per week. If you are drinking your water. YOU WILL GET LEANER! And leaner means a stronger, healthier, more compact, you.
You, Only Stronger!
Stay the course,
Sue
Monday, October 18, 2010
I Am a Comfort Eater!
The Scale. Sometimes it's my friend, sometimes it's my enemy, but it is always lurking in the background.....always there in the back of my mind. Tonight is the weekly weigh-in for the 60 day challenge. The pressure of weighing in is extreme for many people...the anxiety, or downright fear of failure can sabotage our efforts.
I am a comfort eater! There, I said it, the first step to recovery. But my comfort eating is steeped in a long family history. In my family, we all learned from infant on, that food was family, food was comfort, food was entertaining, food surrounded around our lives. All family functions centered around food and drinks. Now don't get me wrong, I have wonderful memories of our family get togethers. And, oooh, the food. But eating and drinking as a means to feel good became part of our DNA. That's just the way it is.
My cousin Steven, died 6 years ago at the age of 42....he weighed nearly 600 pounds. RIP Steven, you are loved and missed.
I have two cousins who recently had gastric bypass surgery. (Stomach Stapled) They are from both sides of the family. Congratulations to Lori and Randy, for taking the steps to change their lives!! You look awesome and are an inspiration to others.
Get the picture? To this day, when family or friends want to get together, my first thought goes to food. I dote over my kids when they visit, making sure I prepare their favorite meals....and especially desserts. Unfortunately, I have been passing this "food dysfunction" on to the next generation. Its time to stop. Its time to change my thinking. There ARE other ways to handle stress, anxiety, depression or fear. There ARE other ways to connect with my family and friends. For you too. None of us want our children and grandchildren to battle the same demons we do. Let's stop this generational curse right now.
So back to the scale. Instead of grabbing a carton of ice cream and a spoon, or a box of dry cereal, or chocolate chips that were hidden in the pantry, I am going to ease my anxiety with some exercise. Every time I feel the urge to eat for comfort, I am going to go for a walk, or pick up my kettlebell at home and start swinging, or turn up the music and DANCE! Exercise releases endorphins that make us feel good. It's the same feeling you get when you eat chocolate or fall in love.
Today I am not going to sabotage my efforts! I am looking forward to the weigh-in. :)
Until tomorrow,
Sue
I am a comfort eater! There, I said it, the first step to recovery. But my comfort eating is steeped in a long family history. In my family, we all learned from infant on, that food was family, food was comfort, food was entertaining, food surrounded around our lives. All family functions centered around food and drinks. Now don't get me wrong, I have wonderful memories of our family get togethers. And, oooh, the food. But eating and drinking as a means to feel good became part of our DNA. That's just the way it is.
My cousin Steven, died 6 years ago at the age of 42....he weighed nearly 600 pounds. RIP Steven, you are loved and missed.
I have two cousins who recently had gastric bypass surgery. (Stomach Stapled) They are from both sides of the family. Congratulations to Lori and Randy, for taking the steps to change their lives!! You look awesome and are an inspiration to others.
Get the picture? To this day, when family or friends want to get together, my first thought goes to food. I dote over my kids when they visit, making sure I prepare their favorite meals....and especially desserts. Unfortunately, I have been passing this "food dysfunction" on to the next generation. Its time to stop. Its time to change my thinking. There ARE other ways to handle stress, anxiety, depression or fear. There ARE other ways to connect with my family and friends. For you too. None of us want our children and grandchildren to battle the same demons we do. Let's stop this generational curse right now.
So back to the scale. Instead of grabbing a carton of ice cream and a spoon, or a box of dry cereal, or chocolate chips that were hidden in the pantry, I am going to ease my anxiety with some exercise. Every time I feel the urge to eat for comfort, I am going to go for a walk, or pick up my kettlebell at home and start swinging, or turn up the music and DANCE! Exercise releases endorphins that make us feel good. It's the same feeling you get when you eat chocolate or fall in love.
Today I am not going to sabotage my efforts! I am looking forward to the weigh-in. :)
Until tomorrow,
Sue
Sunday, October 17, 2010
75 oz of Water? You've got to be kidding!
When I was told to drink at least 75 oz of water per day, my first (and many more after that) response was no way. It's surprising my organs aren't shriveled up like prunes. I have gone through periods of drinking water, marking my cup at work so I could keep track, schlepping to the bathroom every 10 minutes and waking up 5 times during the night to pee. But like most things I started, it didn't take long to find enough excuses to justify stopping. Not until recently did I really understand the importance and value of drinking half your body weight in ounces of water. Example: If you weigh 200 pounds, you should drink 100 ounces of water per day.
Now I'm not going to get technical on you, and go into excruciating detail about how our bodies work. But here it is short and simple. Up to 60% of the human body is water, the brain is composed of 70% water, and the lungs are nearly 90% water. Lean muscle tissue contains about 75% water by weight, as is the brain; body fat contains 10% water and bone has 22% water. About 83% of our blood is water, which helps digest our food, transport waste, and control body temperature. Each day humans must replace water, some through drinking and the rest taken by the body from the foods eaten.
So in order to have a fully functioning body, we need to replenish the water. Plain and simple. To put it in lay man's terms, if you don't drink enough water, you will be starving your organs, including your brain. I don't know about most of you, but I did enough damage to my brain when I was young that I need to take care of it today.
But here is the kicker!! Drinking water can raise your metabolism up to 10%.
That's enough to get me to the water cooler. My metabolism can use some serious help. Let me see if this sounds familiar to anyone.
*The "starvation" diet - eat nothing during the day and have ground
round and tomatoes for evening meal. An amazing 200 calories, per
day, and that's stretching it.
*The Cabbage Soup Diet
*The grapefruit diet
*The Atkins diet
*The 800 calorie/day liquid diet (but I thought it would work better if
I only had 400 calories).
Yes, I tried them all. And the result, rapid weight loss, followed by rapid weight gain, usually exceeding the original starting point. Metabolism? What's that? Mine was wrecked. But there is hope for you if you recognize yourself here.
Drinking water is a requirement in the 60 day challenge. So just start with that, and you will begin to increase your metabolism immediately. Just by increasing your water consumption, you will begin to shed pounds.
Well, I have to sign off...just finished two glasses of water, and....well you know. :)
Cheers,
Sue
Now I'm not going to get technical on you, and go into excruciating detail about how our bodies work. But here it is short and simple. Up to 60% of the human body is water, the brain is composed of 70% water, and the lungs are nearly 90% water. Lean muscle tissue contains about 75% water by weight, as is the brain; body fat contains 10% water and bone has 22% water. About 83% of our blood is water, which helps digest our food, transport waste, and control body temperature. Each day humans must replace water, some through drinking and the rest taken by the body from the foods eaten.
So in order to have a fully functioning body, we need to replenish the water. Plain and simple. To put it in lay man's terms, if you don't drink enough water, you will be starving your organs, including your brain. I don't know about most of you, but I did enough damage to my brain when I was young that I need to take care of it today.
But here is the kicker!! Drinking water can raise your metabolism up to 10%.
That's enough to get me to the water cooler. My metabolism can use some serious help. Let me see if this sounds familiar to anyone.
*The "starvation" diet - eat nothing during the day and have ground
round and tomatoes for evening meal. An amazing 200 calories, per
day, and that's stretching it.
*The Cabbage Soup Diet
*The grapefruit diet
*The Atkins diet
*The 800 calorie/day liquid diet (but I thought it would work better if
I only had 400 calories).
Yes, I tried them all. And the result, rapid weight loss, followed by rapid weight gain, usually exceeding the original starting point. Metabolism? What's that? Mine was wrecked. But there is hope for you if you recognize yourself here.
Drinking water is a requirement in the 60 day challenge. So just start with that, and you will begin to increase your metabolism immediately. Just by increasing your water consumption, you will begin to shed pounds.
Well, I have to sign off...just finished two glasses of water, and....well you know. :)
Cheers,
Sue
Saturday, October 16, 2010
The Journey Begins
Good Morning Folks. I am writing this blog to reach out to all the folks out there who have spent their lives struggling with their weight. I am still fighting that battle, but can honestly say that I now have control.
Wow, there are so many memories......
* Wondering why, at 6 years old at swim lessons, the tops of my legs
touched together when the others kids didn't.
* At 14, hearing a boy I liked tell another boy that I had a big Butt.
* My gymnastics coach, at 15, telling me I weighed too much to compete.
* Eating boiled eggs at school lunch while the other kids had burgers.
* Vowing NEVER to reach that weight again, only to surpass it later.
* Realizing in middle age, that I could not do even one push-up.
* Knowing I had to do something quickly, so I didn't end up in a
walker or wheel chair in my golden years.
That walk through memory lane was not for sympathy, but to let you know, that although I own a gym, I was not born with the "workout gene". In fact, living in the mid-west growing up, I learned to love cheese and bratwurst at an early age, yes I am a cheesehead. Just because my husband is the most fit person I have ever met, does not mean I get that benefit through osmosis. In fact, the opposite happened. The pressure of keeping up with him, caused the opposite response from me, but let's leave that for another day.
Fast forward to today. **THE 60 DAY CHALLENGE**
Spinach gym announced the 60 Day Challenge to our members and to the community. It is a 60 day nutrition and workout plan called the SKOGG SYSTEM, developed by my husband Michael. Participants must commit to 60 days of no sugar, no alcohol, 4 days per week of a kettlebell workout at the gym, and a weekly meeting. We expected a handful of people, but 62 people showed up for that first meeting. All 62 people signed up and are participating.
I am one of those participants as well as a team leader of 11 others. It is my intention to give you a day-to-day look at my life in the 60 day challenge.
So goodbye for today.....
Sue
Wow, there are so many memories......
* Wondering why, at 6 years old at swim lessons, the tops of my legs
touched together when the others kids didn't.
* At 14, hearing a boy I liked tell another boy that I had a big Butt.
* My gymnastics coach, at 15, telling me I weighed too much to compete.
* Eating boiled eggs at school lunch while the other kids had burgers.
* Vowing NEVER to reach that weight again, only to surpass it later.
* Realizing in middle age, that I could not do even one push-up.
* Knowing I had to do something quickly, so I didn't end up in a
walker or wheel chair in my golden years.
That walk through memory lane was not for sympathy, but to let you know, that although I own a gym, I was not born with the "workout gene". In fact, living in the mid-west growing up, I learned to love cheese and bratwurst at an early age, yes I am a cheesehead. Just because my husband is the most fit person I have ever met, does not mean I get that benefit through osmosis. In fact, the opposite happened. The pressure of keeping up with him, caused the opposite response from me, but let's leave that for another day.
Fast forward to today. **THE 60 DAY CHALLENGE**
Spinach gym announced the 60 Day Challenge to our members and to the community. It is a 60 day nutrition and workout plan called the SKOGG SYSTEM, developed by my husband Michael. Participants must commit to 60 days of no sugar, no alcohol, 4 days per week of a kettlebell workout at the gym, and a weekly meeting. We expected a handful of people, but 62 people showed up for that first meeting. All 62 people signed up and are participating.
I am one of those participants as well as a team leader of 11 others. It is my intention to give you a day-to-day look at my life in the 60 day challenge.
So goodbye for today.....
Sue
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