Need Help on Your Journey....check out Sparkpeople.com!

What is www.sparkpeople.com?

It is an AWESOME community of people just like you and me who are looking to live a more healthly lifestyle and shed a few pounds along the way.

And the best part of this is that it is absolutely FREE!

Whether you are just starting your journey and need some direction, or if you have been on your journey for awhile, you will find groups, challenges, and people you will offer advice and motivate you along your way.

There are FREE exercise videos from Coach Nicole....you don't even have to go and buy any videos!

You can log your food, count your calories, and track your nutrition goals. Not to mention that you can also track the number of calories used when you exercise.

I have been with Sparkpeople for awhile now and I cannot tell you how valuable this is to setting and meeting whatever goals you have set for yourself. You also will find out that you are NOT alone....there are other people who are going through exactly what you are going through....WOW!

The encouragement and support you get from peers, coaches, and other experts in the field will fuel you on to doing your best and also help to hold you accountable.

What have you got to lose (besides the pounds)?!

Weight Lifting and Strength Training.

Twice a week, I work out at Gold's Gym with a personal trainer. Fortunately for me, the gym is located within 2 minutes from where I work, making it easier for me to go during my lunch hour.

On Mondays and Wednesdays I am put through what some people would refer to as "torture". Strength training and weightlifing is something you would consider mostly the type of exercises for men. However, this type of workout is an excellent way for women to get or stay in shape and is a great compliment to cardio routines.

Did you know that by building muscle you will burn more calories in your other activities? Not to mention that toned arms, abs, and legs are a reward in themselves.

A lot of women are afraid of doing this type of exercising in fear of overdeveloping muscles and appearing like some of the women in the body building competitions. If this is your fear, you can put it to rest. Talk with a personal trainer and he or she can put together some routines that will give you the toned look you are looking for, increase your stamina, and overall health.

I love weight training. Even though it is usually followed by a day of soreness, I know that it is because I gave my muscles a good workout. I always come away feeling stronger....and more self confident!

If this is something that you have shied away from, you should at least give it a try...you might be surprised!

Why I Do What I Do.....

In a nutshell....because I am worth it.

I am not perfect. I screw up. I am not always positive. I have days when I complain, bitch and whine. There are days when I feel I am on top of the world, and days when I want nothing more than to throw in the towell.

Anybody who tells you they never feel down, has a bad day, and are ALWAYS ready to give it 100% is lying. We are human and have human emotions...we have ups and downs. We just hope that our ups outweigh our downs. And we know that when we do have a bad day....it is just that... "a day". It is not forever. It's okay to have a bad day once in awhile.

My week last weeked, SUCKED big time!

Headaches, health issues, stress, yada yada yada. Did I feel like throwing in the towell? Hell yeah! But did I do it....not a chance.

This is MY journey. The decisions I make are MINE to make. The consequenses of those decisions are MINE to deal with. The accomplishments are MINE to celebrate.

I know this isn't a long post. It doesn't have mind blowing advice or eye opening revelations. But it is what it is.....ME.

Motivation vs Determination

How many of us have either heard or said, "I'm just not very motivated to do _________(fill in the blank)?

The dictionary defines motivation as:

motivation- n
1. the act or an instance of motivating
2. desire to do; interest or drive
3. incentive or inducement

So you're motivation to lose weight or become healthy could be almost anything. For me, it was my health. My blood pressure was high, I felt pretty much like crap all the time and I was ready for a change. And from there, I would set little goals and rewards for attaining those goals. For others, sometimes, it could be to be able to get in a new bathing suit, an upcoming wedding, to be able to fit into that ___size jeans, a trip....etc.

Sometimes, you have to create your own motivation....but what happens when you have started on your journey and that motivation is just not there any longer. A lot of people just give up...they become discouraged. Maybe they have slipped and they now believe that the goal that they have set is unattainable. They lose their motivation.

Motivation can come and go and sometimes you don't have control over "motivation".....it's what you do that counts. That's where Determination comes in. You control determination. It is something that comes from within you....not some outward thing that you strive for.

Determination is what causes us to keep going no matter what.
Some of the definitions from the dictionary for determination are:

determination — n
1. the act or an instance of making a decision
2. the condition of being determined; resoluteness
3. a resolute movement towards some object or end

So....no matter what your motivation is to reach your goals....it's your determination that will get you there.

So, set your goals, be motivated, but above all, be determined and resolute in your purpose of getting there.

Dissapointed

My title was intended to read Motivation vs Determination. However, today is Wednesday and therefore, my weigh in day. Let's just say, I wasn't happy with the number on the scales this morning. I am hoping it is water weight as my fingers seemed to be a little swollen.

Yes, I am dissapointed that the scale went up 2.6 lbs.....yes you read that correct...I GAINED weight this week.

So, what do you do when the scale is heading in the other direction. Do you give up and throw out everything and wallow in self-pity?

The answer is a big fat NO!

You look at the decisions you have made regarding eating and excercising and any other factors that could contribute to weight gain such as stress or it can even be your sleeping patters. Are there changes you can make or did you do everything you could do?

If the first is the case and there is changes that need to be made....make them.
If the latter is the case and you know you gave it everything you had...don't be discouraged...bodies react differently and you are doing what you should be doing to be the best healthiest person you can be.

As for me, the latter is NOT the case. I know some things I still need to change in order to get where I want to go. I also know that, like I said before, I do seem to be a little puffy. Normally, I am only trying to weigh in once a week, but I'm going to weigh in again tomorrow, just to see if it is the water weight or not.

I'm still going to reach for the gold...

Maybe tomorrow I'll write my post about motivation vs. determination.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!