We All Need a Good Carrot

Where to begin?  I need a couple of days to do some reading and following up on things I want to delve into further.  Apparently there is a new and updated Atkins diet out that has added lots more vegetables because the experts all agree that the fiber in vegetables is critical to our bodies and helps speed up weight loss.  Thank goodness!  I understand that eating nothing but bacon and eggs all day causes ketosis and allows rapid weight loss, but where is the health and balance in that?  Isn’t the goal to be thin and STILL HEALTHY?  I hope so.

I missed the past Biggest Loser contestant (Kai-I remember her) on the Today Show yesterday.  I also missed the spot on the aol screen, but enough people saw one, or the other, to enlighten me.  Apparently she has come out to say what we see isn’t always exactly as it goes.  She also said something about having an eating disorder since the show.  In all fairness, I would have to say most people have eating disorders before they ever get on the show or they wouldn’t be there in the first place!  That said, I will be looking to see the piece in it’s entirety so if anyone has a copy of the clip, please send or I will search later this afternoon, when I am on a break from work.

Yesterday, since I did not have to work till evening, I had a really productive, work related day.  I ordered a continuing education course called resistance training for the class – circuits. I am always looking for a new way to present the same thing.  I have done most of the workshops that AFAA offers, but this one is new, so hopefully I will learn a few new things to bring to class.  I also did the Physique 57 video which is decent.  I like the workout, but find the instructors would be great in person, but as this was the third time I did the video, I found her phrasing gets a little annoying when you hear it repeatedly.  This is something I will keep in mind when I am doing more videos for my clients.  The less cutesy, the better.  I NEVER get tired of Tony Horton’s dialogue on P90X.  I am looking forward to doing the yoga video from that, tomorrow, when I have the entire day off!

I also swam a few laps yesterday.  Once I get in the pool, I try increasing them each week.  Knowing it will be a long summer, I am starting out slowly.  Last night I shared some of Physique 57 in class and I think that some will be feeling it today.  It was nice to leave the gym with a woman who reported all the inches she has lost since she started working out at the gym.  Struggling with menopause, she has been frustrated (I GET IT) so I am glad the tape measure showed her how her hard work is paying off.

Finally, I did watch Losing It last night and I enjoyed this episode.  Maybe it was because it was really the first one of the the 4 that I gave my full attention to.  The severely overweight mom and dad lost a combined total of over 100 pounds in just 8 weeks.  I talk a lot about having a goal that you can stay focused on– a carrot or brass ring–this couple was headed for a young death and their twins were so scared they would lose them.  If staying alive to raise your children isn’t the ticket, I don’t really know what is!  Maybe it was still the $50,000 from JillianMichaels..com that really motivated them, but I would like to think it was the kids.  The money is a nice bonus, though!

Most of us are goal oriented.  We may love our jobs, but we probably still work for the paycheck.  I encourage you, once again, to find small and large goals to focus on when trying to lose weight and/or get fit.  Whether it is an upcoming BIG birthday, a wedding you will be attending, fitting back into a pair of your favorite jeans, treating yourself to a massage, purchasing a new piece of clothing, running in a race, playing ball with your kids or more importantly just BEING here for your loved ones, focus hard and long and often on your “carrot.”  I am pretty convinced it’s one of the most important parts of being successful in any journey.