Thirty Dayz Of 'Clean Eating': GET READY!

Just a quick reminder that my Thirty Dayz Of 'Clean Eating' challenge begins in 3 days!!!! I must admit that this last couple days I have eaten probably worse than I have in years and I can definitely feel it. Last nights shopping trip was Doritos, icecream, scones, whipcream, chocolate, tator tots (potato gems as they are called here), sparkling cider, etc. I haven't seen my fridge look this unhealthy and out of shape since...well ever. I think the last time I did a shop like that was maybe when I was at Uni. This morning I actually had icecream for breakfast! ahhhhhhh. Needless to say, I WILL be going for a run down along the beach later today. (I would like to soon start working towards running 10k, currently up to about 5k).

Monday I plan to go to the Central Markets and stock up on fresh produce for the week and do some prep-work in the kitchen for my meals. Better to be ready and prepared then do another shop like last night. I hope all those planning to join in on this challenge are starting to wrap there head around the challenge and getting mentally ready to start changing some eating habits and getting back to health. Yay for monday! Can't wait!!!


-me

Thirty Dayz Of 'Clean Eating': Postponed

Goodaye' to all those out in the bloggosphere! I hope you are enjoying this beautiful day :)

I am just blogging a quick update for my next '30 Dayz of' challenge. I had initially said that my clean eating challenge would begin this Monday, October 8th, but due to circumstances I am forced to postpone this challenge to the following week. The good news, this gives those participating an extra week to get on board and clean out those cupboards. To give you an idea of what I mean when I say clean eating, think Daniel Fast or consider the following list of foods that I will be cutting out for the next 30 days to help you get started. If you want to follow my same list, then great, if not make your own and go from there :)

Clean Eating List of 'No-Go' foods

1. No Refined - Sugars
2. No Saturated Fats
3. No Processed Foods
4. No Coffee
5. No Gluten
6. No Red Meat/Pork
7. No cream/ limited dairy

This list is tailored to me and my needs, and is likely appropriate for many people. It is going to be a lot harder than it sounds I am sure. I see it as pressing the reset button on my eating habits. I plan to eat wholefoods, lots of greens, and fruits and veggies. Eat from the earth, natural products, super-foods that are nutritious.

Even though I have been eating similar to this way for some time now, I know that I do enjoy my occasional treats from the local cafe, and my morning coffee on the way to school so giving those up are going to be quite difficult. I have adopted a mostly gluten-free diet already, and to those wanting to do this challenge who think they can't give up bread, trust me if you try it you will most likely feel much better. My body doesn't process gluten well, I am self-diagnosed, but have done so by doing 'reset' diets like this before where I strip back my diet to the bare minimum for a week or so and slowly add things back in to see what it is that is making my body so upset. I found gluten and dairy to be two items I have had to severely cut back on that I never would have thought of before and have found myself to be feeling much better. However, in the past few weeks I have gotten off the wagon with my eating a little bit and hoping this challenge will 'reset' my good eating habits. I would love to have you join with me. :)

All the best,

Rebecca

30 Dayz of Fitness: COMPLETED!

The Challenge: 30 Consecutive Days of Working Out

The Reason: To reshape and tone my body

My Progress: 100% Complete!!!!

(Having this board to write encouraging notes on throughout, and check off days as I went was super helpful in keeping me motivated for the 30 Days.)

Thirty days ago I took on the challenge to work-out for thirty consecutive days, and yesterday I completed my last day of the challenge. I feel great!!! Each day I did something different; it was so much fun finding different workouts online or on youtube. I tried to mix things up each day to keep me motivated and interested in working out. Some days I challenged myself a little harder than others, some days I had no motivation and my wonderful fiance would have to resort to using guilt trips in order to manipulate me into working out, and some days I just couldn't wait to hit the pavement and go for a run or do my ab routine.

Now I sit and reflect. Was it worth it? YES! I have created a good habit of working out and am motivated to keep going based on my personal results I can feel and the changes I am noticing in my body. I am much stronger; in fact I have had to increase the weight of my dumbbells and that is always exciting. My core  is definitely stronger and leaner, and my clothes are fitting better (this is always a plus).  This morning, which would be day 31, I couldn't help but get out of bed and do my quick 4-minute wake me up workout and fit in an ab session for the day. For anyone who says they don't have the time, that is just rubbish. Anyone can fit in 5 minutes to do a quick ab session or 20 minutes cardio, or work in some lunges into the day. Most people seem to have the time to sit on the couch to at least watch their favorite show each day, well do planks during commercial breaks or get some light dumbbells and do an arm circuit while watching your favorite show. You will be done working out before your show is probably over and you will begin to notice yourself becoming stronger. One thing this challenge has taught me, is there really is no excuse. If it takes a 30 day challenge for you to make a habit of working out, DO IT! Once you get going, it gets easier to find the time and you start to look forward to it. The first few days can be a bit rough, you know after that first initial burst of gusto to complete the challenge fades away, but if you stick to it and even on those days when you have no motivation just do something small you will feel much better for it. I hope those reading are encouraged, and whether its just the challenge to get off the couch and do some abs during your favorite show, do a 30 Day fitness challenge, or go for a run a couple times a week, GO FOR IT! And, if you find you miss a day don't give up, all the work that has already been put in counts for something.

This next week I have decided to take a week to relax. I still plan to work out, but my next '30 Dayz Of...' challenge will begin next Monday, October 8th. The reason for the week off, is just that, to have a week off of any obligation to a challenge so I don't wear out. It is good to challenge ourselves, but we do need to breath as well. This next week I plan to do just that so I can mentally prepare myself and get my kitchen sorted for the next challenge. I want to start a good note. My next challenge will be '30 Dayz of Clean Eating'. I do hope you join and we can share recipes, ideas, and encouragement to all those participating. I'll see you back here on October 8th.


Rebecca


PS- make sure to leave me a comment letting me know if you want to participate in my '30 Dayz of Clean Eating' challenge.

30 Dayz of Fitness: Bikram Indulgence

Challenge: 30 Consecutive Days of Working Out.

Reason: To reshape my body and tone up.

Progress: Day 25 complete.


Today was day 25!!! Very Exciting, 5 more days to go.  :)

This morning I woke up early and started my day with a warm-up mini workout routine that I found on youtube by Amanda Russell (ARFitness). The routine is really simple and one I would like to incorporate in to my day each morning, I may have to do a '30-dayz of get yourself out of bed at the crack of dawn' to make a habit of it, but I'll revisit that at a later date ;) (In no way have I ever been a morning person). Anyways, back to today. After my mini workout, I made some fresh homemade almond milk for the first time...DELICIOUS! I ate my new found favorite breakfast, overnight refrigerated oats. I would be needing a solid breakfast because I had plans to catch the train into the city and attend a Bikram Yoga class at noon (ie; Hot Yoga done in a 41 degree Celsius/ 104 F Room). After yoga I walked to the Central Market to buy some fresh produce and get some last ingredients for my healthy'ish dinner I was planning to cook up tonight - twice baked cauliflower. At around 5pm I was doing well. I had finished day 25 with an intense Bikram workout, which I totally rocked according to my standards. I had eaten super well, lots of veggies and whole grains. Theeeen somewhere along the way my cauliflower dinner went out the window and KFC and the Cheesecake Shop interrupted my successful day. I know this is wrong, but because next month is going to be a '30-dayz of very strict diet', I figured I might as well indulge while there was still time. This is not an attitude I encourage. All my days hard-work and diligence I know still counts for something, but it certainly now feels tainted. After eating my chicken sandwich, which was really not all that good, I instantly felt bloated and disgusting. The aftermath is never worth it, (I now remind myself). I did an abs workout to make myself feel a little bit better about it. Plus, I have been trying to do a random abs session everyday no matter what so I was due for it. After abs, CHEESECAKE!!! Now if anyone knows me, they know my favorite is cheesecake. I just love it! A good cheesecake that is, and here in Australia the Cheesecake Shop makes probably the best I have ever had. The last time I had one was about one and a half year ago, so I thought I was due for a slice. This I DO NOT regret in the slightest. I didn't over indulge on the cake, however, in addition to the KFC probably not the best choice. But, it was simply divine. Now I am sitting here keeping you updated on my progress consoling myself over a nice cup of chamomile vanilla honey flavoured tea before bedtime. In the end though, day 25 is complete and I am proud of the hard workout I put in today. Tomorrow will be another Bikram day because I really need to use up the package of classes I purchased before they expire, so I will be sweatin' that KFC out tomorrow. Can't wait, bring on a new day!

-Rebecca

Below is my new 4-minute morning workout routine I got from Amanda Russell's you-tube page. It's quick and fairly easy; I plan to include it for the rest of this and my next challenge. Gets you awake, ready, and pumped for the day. Give it a try! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbp3MbM_Goc&feature=g-high-c

30 Seconds: Push ups
30 Seconds: Leg ups
60 Seconds: Plank
30 Seconds: Plank knee to elbow
30 Seconds: Hip Raises
60 Seconds: Head stand - (I'm still working on this one) 

30 Dayz of Fitness

The Challenge: 30 Consecutive Days of Working Out.

The Reason: To reshape my body, and tone up.

My Progress: Day 23 Complete.

The inspiration for this blog has stemmed from my own personal challenge that started 23 days ago - a 30 day fitness challenge. I started this challenge determined to reshape my body and get fit. I always find myself talking about the toned legs I would like to have, that lifted bikini butt I wish I could sport at the beach, or that six pack that I just know is in there somewhere. Can anyone relate?

Our bodies have so much potential, so much strength in each individual physique and I was set out to discover mine. I had no 'one' body shape in mind that I was working towards, just wanted to be overall more toned  and love my body for its own strength and potential. In the last 23 days I have worked hard to shape it into its own fit and fabulous self, whether that meant 'lean and mean' or 'bulk and tough.' If you too are wanting to reshape your body, I encourage you to keep in mind that no one body shape is the same, so do not expect the same results that someone else might have. Personally, I was not set out to get some unrealistic skinny supermodel frame, but rather appreciate the results I could create with this body. I did think that by this time during my challenge I would be seeing a six-pack; I now realize that was a little over ambitious, however, what's more important than being disappointed that I can't see my six pack yet, is I am so proud of myself for having made it this far in the challenge and in the changes that I can feel.

With one week left to go I plan to increase the intensity. Also, I believe I have started a good habit of working out these last few weeks that will continue even past the experation date of this challenge. Everyday I fit something in whether it be a big workout, a run on the beach, or a quick ab session. Even though the changes in my body are not so noticable to every one else, I feel stronger, my waste is firmer and I can tell that my body is reshaping from the inside out. With some more work and diligence I know I will have much more dramatic visible results. These past 23 days have encouraged me to continue on with my fitness goals and I plan to continue next month working on my overall health by focusing on what I am eating. This in conjunction with a 5-day workout plan each week is sure to give me more dramatic results.

If you would like to join me next month in my attempts to eat right, get fit, and improve your overall well-being, leave a post and let me know.

I hope you enjoy my new blog!!!

Thanks for reading!

Rebecca