My will power was tested this weekend and I failed. I want to blame it on external situations, such as my husband or kids, but at the end of the day, I realize it is all me. When it comes to food, especially chocolate, I'm weak. My sound decision making skills vanish and my strength is gone in an instant.
This weekend, my husband made a great brunch for a friend who was visiting from the Bay Area. My husband had good intentions and made healthy items, however, when I added up all the calories I ate, it turns out I had 934 calories! Here's what I ate:
A glass of Orange Juice (this is a rare treat, 110 calories)
Poached eggs with garbanzo beans, tomatoes and spinach (very delicious and healthy only 259 calories. Click for recipe courtesy of Jenn Louis, Lincoln Restaurant and Sunshine Tavern, Portland, Oregon, Cooking Light DECEMBER 2012)
Half an English Muffin with Neufchatel cream cheese and Fig Butter from Trader Joe's (125 calories)
Chicken Sausage from Trader Joe's (about 110 calories)
Orange with Yogurt and lemon sauce (149 calories) from Jillian Michaels - probably only had half an orange, maybe saved some calories
Chocolate Truffle Brownie Cookie (about 180 calories) from Trader Joe's
Now that I write it out, it seems like a lot, but in reality, nothing was over sized, or appeared that extravagant at the time. I was full, not stuffed, and I felt the need to eat everything. Why? No will power. I could come up with a million external reasons such as, I didn't want to hurt my husband's feelings, it looked delicious, it tasted great, but if I'm being honest, simply put, I have no will power. I was shocked to figure out the total calorie count later. Was it worth it? Would I have been just as happy with just the egg dish? Yes. I honestly believe I would, and next time I'll do my best to understand what the best choices are to stay within my calorie guideline.
Compare that meal with my lunch today: a frittata (197 calories), courtesy of Jillian Michaels, and an apple (116 calories). That's below my max of 400 calories and I'm still full 1.5 hours later. Am I eyeing those chocolate truffle brownie cookies? You bet I am! But, I haven't reached for one yet. I am craving one and doing everything I can to show my body, mind over matter wins. That I do have will power down deep in my soul. Writing this blog is also helping as it would be just pitiful and ironic if I couldn't make it through this post without "cheating".
I'm not even going to go into the details of my dinner last night at a deep dish pizza place for a kid's birthday party (which is a fairly frequent scenario given my pre-elementary kids' ages). I don't even know how to begin counting those calories!
Here's the funny thing, I don't really have any other vices. I haven't ever smoked, I don't do drugs, I'll drink an occasional glass of wine, head to the spa or go shopping, but the lack of frequency doesn't translate to a vice in my mind. Chocolate, however, is something I have come to rely on as a necessity, right up there with breathing. I have chocolate every day, sometimes multiple times a day, and I've even refused to share my chocolate on more than one occasion. So when I'm offered chocolate, at a kids party, for example, it's never been an option for me to say no.
I'm turning 40 next year and have a few major goals I'd like to achieve before that big milestone. One is the ability to find my will power, especially when it comes to food and chocolate. I know I feel better when I make better choices, and I know I'm working really hard with these Jillian Michaels videos, so why waste that effort?
It all sounds easy to follow, doesn't it? Is now my time to finally take control? What have you struggled with and how did you overcome your weakness?
Monday, April 15, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
What's that I feel?
Right around my birthday last month, I was the designated child watcher so my husband could go to a dear friend's 40th birthday party celebration. I stayed home, watched a movie, and then got sucked into an infomercial. I think this infomercial is going to change my life - and I am already feeling the results.
I bought Jillian Michaels' Body Revolution. How could I not after seeing so many convincing before and after pictures?! These included real people I could identify with, people who had bellies or love handles, but weren't hundreds of pounds overweight. I probably have about 15 pounds to lose. I have 30 minutes a day to exercise. So I bought it, and Jillian is kicking my ass. Daily.
I've been fit before, especially when I was training for the marathon in 2005. After my second son was born in 2011, I was walking 5-6 miles per day. I shed all of my baby weight, but my belly has just not been anywhere close to firm. I also had c-sections for both of my boys, and thought I would never be able to have a flat stomach (and the last time I had one was in high school).
I was able to stay home with my youngest for the first 13 months of his life. I walked him around a lot. Then he went to daycare and I started a job within 2 months. That was the last time I exercised on a consistent basis. Now, fast forward, 8 months, I am searching for a new job and have time to workout, and finally make the change I need to for a healthy body.
I'm proud of myself for taking action, following through, and keeping the end goal in mind: healthy body and longer life. I'm on week 3 of the program, and I have already seen my sleep improve dramatically, my energy level is up, my mood is much better, my period was even cramp-free. But today, I am feeling my mid-back muscles, due to several moves from her "workout 4" DVD...I'm just reminding myself that this pain is good, my core will be strong, and those big muscles will burn more calories.
Luckily, I don't have to workout those muscles for another two days, but I do have to complete the Cardio DVD today. I'm looking forward to loosening up my muscles, get the blood flowing, burning more calories, and trying to keep up with her! Showing up is half the battle, pushing yourself to your max is the other challenge.
I can't wait to see what my body will look like at the end of the 90-day program. It will be just in time for my youngest's 2nd birthday, and with summer just around the corner, I know I'll be thrilled with my toned, strong, and lean body. Sexy, right?
I've been cooking her recipes as well, and I am pleasantly surprised at how tasty they are, as well as satisfying. I'll admit, I'm not down to 1200 calories a day as she suggests, however, I am eating better (less cheats) and I'm trying to eat less.
Anyone else survive a Jillian Michaels program? I've heard from friends that it's the only program that actually works. What else do you do to stay healthy?
I bought Jillian Michaels' Body Revolution. How could I not after seeing so many convincing before and after pictures?! These included real people I could identify with, people who had bellies or love handles, but weren't hundreds of pounds overweight. I probably have about 15 pounds to lose. I have 30 minutes a day to exercise. So I bought it, and Jillian is kicking my ass. Daily.
I've been fit before, especially when I was training for the marathon in 2005. After my second son was born in 2011, I was walking 5-6 miles per day. I shed all of my baby weight, but my belly has just not been anywhere close to firm. I also had c-sections for both of my boys, and thought I would never be able to have a flat stomach (and the last time I had one was in high school).
I was able to stay home with my youngest for the first 13 months of his life. I walked him around a lot. Then he went to daycare and I started a job within 2 months. That was the last time I exercised on a consistent basis. Now, fast forward, 8 months, I am searching for a new job and have time to workout, and finally make the change I need to for a healthy body.
I'm proud of myself for taking action, following through, and keeping the end goal in mind: healthy body and longer life. I'm on week 3 of the program, and I have already seen my sleep improve dramatically, my energy level is up, my mood is much better, my period was even cramp-free. But today, I am feeling my mid-back muscles, due to several moves from her "workout 4" DVD...I'm just reminding myself that this pain is good, my core will be strong, and those big muscles will burn more calories.
Luckily, I don't have to workout those muscles for another two days, but I do have to complete the Cardio DVD today. I'm looking forward to loosening up my muscles, get the blood flowing, burning more calories, and trying to keep up with her! Showing up is half the battle, pushing yourself to your max is the other challenge.
I can't wait to see what my body will look like at the end of the 90-day program. It will be just in time for my youngest's 2nd birthday, and with summer just around the corner, I know I'll be thrilled with my toned, strong, and lean body. Sexy, right?
I've been cooking her recipes as well, and I am pleasantly surprised at how tasty they are, as well as satisfying. I'll admit, I'm not down to 1200 calories a day as she suggests, however, I am eating better (less cheats) and I'm trying to eat less.
Anyone else survive a Jillian Michaels program? I've heard from friends that it's the only program that actually works. What else do you do to stay healthy?
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Do what you love; love what you do
It's something I've heard throughout my life, and I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one. Yet, how many of us know someone who is not happy in their job. Sometimes the source of unhappiness is the company, the people you interact with, or even the role itself. But sometimes, it's more than that.
As a marketer, I am expected to be passionate about the product or service I am marketing. There were some roles in the past where I had to convince myself that it was okay to be passionate about the how of marketing, not what I was marketing. I didn't always have a choice of what I worked on, but I did get a lot of great experience from those products/services I was marketing.
I'm at a point in my career, and my life, where I want to connect with the product, and how I market it to consumers. I am proud that I am staying true to the title of this post and my current search has me focused on things I love, which lucky for me, I love many things, including: food, chocolate (yes, a separate category because I love chocolate that much!), cooking/baking (anything about a kitchen), family, exercise, outdoors, culture, travel, friends, learning, organizing, house hunting and the list could go on and on.
I am also at a point in my life where I'd like a little more stability. Stability doesn't mean lack of change, rather, opportunity for continued growth, a solid foundation. I would like us to buy a home close to my future employer as my oldest is about to enter Kindergarten in the fall. I'd like to know that the school he goes to is where he'll be for all of his elementary school years. He's already lived in two cities and a total of four homes, I feel a little guilt about his lack of stability since we became renters again when we returned to Chicago a few years ago. I'm also getting tired of packing and moving, although I am quite good at it!
I do get very excited when an offer is extended; it's a critical decision, a crossroad of life where you know if you say "yes!" your life will forever change. Except now, it's not just my life, it's my husband's life and my boys' lives that will also be impacted. Hopefully in a good way, but nevertheless affected. That is why it's so critical to do what you love and love what you do. Your job/career takes up a lot of time and if you are happy and love what you do, your "free" time will be a lot more fun, because you'll be happy. The people in your life will notice and they will be thankful too.
Have I oversimplified things? Yes, perhaps a bit, but I believe it really does come down to the ultimate goal of fulfilling yourself and doing the best you can for you, and those around you. What's your experience with jobs? Have you always loved your work, or do you believe in more of a punch-card mentality to show up, do the job, and live your life completely separate from work?
As a marketer, I am expected to be passionate about the product or service I am marketing. There were some roles in the past where I had to convince myself that it was okay to be passionate about the how of marketing, not what I was marketing. I didn't always have a choice of what I worked on, but I did get a lot of great experience from those products/services I was marketing.
I'm at a point in my career, and my life, where I want to connect with the product, and how I market it to consumers. I am proud that I am staying true to the title of this post and my current search has me focused on things I love, which lucky for me, I love many things, including: food, chocolate (yes, a separate category because I love chocolate that much!), cooking/baking (anything about a kitchen), family, exercise, outdoors, culture, travel, friends, learning, organizing, house hunting and the list could go on and on.
I am also at a point in my life where I'd like a little more stability. Stability doesn't mean lack of change, rather, opportunity for continued growth, a solid foundation. I would like us to buy a home close to my future employer as my oldest is about to enter Kindergarten in the fall. I'd like to know that the school he goes to is where he'll be for all of his elementary school years. He's already lived in two cities and a total of four homes, I feel a little guilt about his lack of stability since we became renters again when we returned to Chicago a few years ago. I'm also getting tired of packing and moving, although I am quite good at it!
I do get very excited when an offer is extended; it's a critical decision, a crossroad of life where you know if you say "yes!" your life will forever change. Except now, it's not just my life, it's my husband's life and my boys' lives that will also be impacted. Hopefully in a good way, but nevertheless affected. That is why it's so critical to do what you love and love what you do. Your job/career takes up a lot of time and if you are happy and love what you do, your "free" time will be a lot more fun, because you'll be happy. The people in your life will notice and they will be thankful too.
Have I oversimplified things? Yes, perhaps a bit, but I believe it really does come down to the ultimate goal of fulfilling yourself and doing the best you can for you, and those around you. What's your experience with jobs? Have you always loved your work, or do you believe in more of a punch-card mentality to show up, do the job, and live your life completely separate from work?
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