Goals and Self Defeating Behavior - Kick your subconscious in the butt!

So I have been doing pretty good working out and eating better and losing weight and toning up, etc.   And then . . . I reach a goal and think "So I am here.  I wonder if I do this, how much I will gain back . . . " and so then begins the downward spiral.  I mean, I reached my mini-goal and now I am back up 6 pounds!!!!  I am ticked!!!  But we've all been there right?  NOT ANYMORE!

I heard someone say the other day that we are comfortable in our "box" and if we strive for something different and we get there, we subconsciously start to undo what we did to get to the goal so we could get back to our "box."  He used the example of all the multi-million dollar lottery winners that go bankrupt.  I always think, "Well, they are just stupid!  I would be so much smarter with that money."  I like to think I would but would I subsconsciously start to self destruct so I could get back to my box?

So subconscious - here is your kick in the butt.  When we reach a goal, we are going to create a new "box" into which we fit and we are going to set up the beginnings of another box for our next goal so we can see it and then we are going to burn all the boxes behind us.  Got it???  There is no going back.  I refuse.

Running and Shakeology . . . is it worth it? Does it work?

So today I ran a little over 5 miles.  Trying to cut my time down somewhere between 10 and 11 mph.  Right now I am right above 11mph.  Anyway, good run.  This giant boxer scared the ever loving crap out of my at one point though.  He usually minds his own business and gives me a cursory glance but today, after I had passed him, he came running up behind me and barked.  I nearly jumped out of my skin because I was trying to pay attention to the dog that was in the yard coming up.  Anyway, he then proceeded to run along side and sniff me and jump up and down.  I think he just wanted to play but it took me a little while to calm back down.  We have covenants in our neighborhood that require dogs to be fenced in, but apparently some people think those covenants are optional. 

So onto the second topic of my blog . . . Is Shakeology worth it and does it really work?

In a word . . . YES!  I talk about this on my website some (http://www.coachcrystalfitness.com/) but thought I would bring it up here too.  I am one of the most skeptical people on the planet (thank you law school) and always think I can do something cheaper than what someone else is offering.  So it obviously took me a long time to give in and try Shakeology.  Seriously, I had been doing Beachbody programs for two years before I tried it.  I love it!  I don't ever eat as many vegetables as I should and I hate taking supplements because they upset my stomach.  And my husband eats like a two year old (you know, really picky).  Well, actually my two year old eats better than my husband.  So we thought we would finally give it a try since we really wanted to eat healthier.  We love Strawberry (we get that every month) and I like the chocolate too.  Greenberry is good if you add some fruit but is third among the three choices.  The taste is great - trust me, my husband would not drink it if it wasn't.  It's so nutritious and tastes great too!  I mean, how can you lose?  I have a shake for breakfast every morning.  And there are so many recipes, you won't ever get bored.
So now to what really made me hold out so long - the price.  Yeah, I know, you look at it and say "OUCH!"  But if you really think about it, it's $4 per shake (and we sometimes only use 1/2 a serving so that makes it $2 per shake).  You probably spend more than that on your lunch and your lunch is nowhere near as nutritious (I don't care what you are eating for lunch, it's not).   And the health benefits are real.  It has helped both of us with digestive issues, it helped me break a fitness plateau and I have a ton more energy than I used to.  I used to come home after work and just want to flop on the couch and put a show on for the kids after working all day.  Now we are outside playing in the yard, playing basketball or any number of other things in the afternoon after work.  I just cannot say enough about the difference it has made in my energy levels. 
We also factor it in as part of our grocery budget so we are not having to come up with the extra money to buy it, we are just buying less at the grocery store (which really means we are buying less junk - which is good).  You really should give it a try.  You really have nothing to lose - Beachbody gives you a moneyback guarantee! 

I vow to stay busy . . . . and blog more often!

So weekends are the hardest time for me as far as eating well.  I eat when I am bored and/or stressed and weekends present both those situations for me more often than not. 

This weekend, I vow to stay busy cleaning out closets, getting my hair done, grocery shopping, playing with the kids outside . . . anything to keep busy!  :o)

This morning, I just couldn't stomach Yoga another day this week so I threw in Insanity Cardio Recovery.  My heart rate monitor went crazy and quit working in the middle of the workout so I am not sure how much I burned but who cares! 
Mommy guilt reared its ugly head today too.  I volunteered to drop off the kids this a.m. (my husband usually drops them off and I pick them up) and my 5 year old daughter did not want me to leave.  She gave me the sad eyes with the stuck out lip and glued herself to me while I tried to leave.  It just breaks my heart sometimes that they spend all day in the care of other people and then I see them for a few hours before bedtime.  I think most moms have the mommy guilt.  I know that being with other kids allows them to learn socialization skills and my daughter is learning a ton in her K4 class and it also gives me an opportunity to work and flex my brain.  But sometimes . . .

So tomorrow's work out will likely be a run in the a.m.  I haven't decided yet whether I am going to do another week of Phase III or do a recovery week next week.  I really don't think I have given Phase III a fair shot so I may go one more week.  Anyway, I have to be in tip top shape by May 1.  The big family get together begins May 19 and I wanna look my best!

Oh and I vow to blog more often than once a week.  Work has just been so busy that I am working all day and then working when the kids go to bed until I am literally falling asleep at my computer at home.  Maybe it will slow down soon . . .

Weekend running in the country

I love going to my in-laws.  They are some of the best people I know.  They live in the middle of nowhere in a very beautiful part of the world.  And they love my kids like crazy!  Anyway, every time I am here, I must run!  There's just nothing like running on a hilly dirt road with the only company being a few dogs, the birds, the rising sun and my music. 
So yesterday I ran about 6.5 miles total.  First, I ran about 4.5 on my own.  I came back to the house to get my husband who said he wanted to go walk with me after I finished running and he finished his Insanity work out for the day.  Well, we ended up going up the street to help grandma move a giant tractor tire instead.  So sitting aroung grandma's, my husband asked if I wanted to run down to the stop sign (about 1/2 mile one way).  I said sure!  He is trying to get ready for the Warrior Dash we are doing later this month in Jackson, MS, so I always go if he asks.  So we start running and get close to the stop sign and decide to keep running for another 1/2 mile. We turn around to come back and are getting close to grandma's and decide that we should sprint to the driveway.  Well, my calves were on fire when we stopped!  My legs are still pretty sore but I think I am still going to have to get out and run this morning before church.  I just cannot pass up the opportunity!
Going to do at least one more week of Phase III of X2 but am thinking of then doing  a rest week and starting Insanity.  We will see.  Happy running everyone!

P.A.P. Upper and Lower - That's it, really?

So I started Phase III yesterday with PAP Lower.  Good work out but I was kind of disappointed when it was over.  It is essentially 8 moves, four times.  You do four moves and then start over with those 4 moves until you have done each of the moves 4 times.  Then you get a rest and do four different moves, etc.  I mean, my husband comes up stairs sweating like crazy and I broke a sweat, but just barely.    And I was trying very hard on the moves and giving it lots of effort so I know that was not the problem.
Woke up this morning and was a little sore on one side of my glutes. That was it.
Then I did PAP Upper this a.m.  Same thing.  8 moves, four times each.  I think I am going to have to throw in some ab ripper at some point as the abs on upper and lower just don't seem to be a whole lot of work.
Anyway, I am not giving up on it.  It was my first time for both workouts and the moves were challenging but I turned off the dvd player thinking that it just wasn't enough.  But I was not impressed with Plyo the first time I did it either and it came to be my favorite X workout.
I am afraid though that Phase III may get monotonous.  I am sincerely hoping not!  You do PAP Lower, then PAP Upper, then Yoga, Rest day, PAP Lower, PAP Upper, Rest day.  Same eight moves two days a week and then a different set of 8 moves two days a week.  We shall see! 

I will say that I have noticed a significant change in my physique.  My arms and abs are more defined and when I squatted down earlier today I could really feel the muscle in my leg when I put my hand on my quad.  It was wonderful!  I have been really hoping to get my legs in better shape.  Someone even complimented me on my arms the other day and a lady at the gym said "Your abs are ripped up!" And that was a huge compliment because her abs were pretty "ripped up" too!  Patience and consistency is the key!  Watch out bikini - here I come!!!!!