Measuring Results

Since January 5th I have gained a little over a pound. My BMI has gone down .2. Neither of those are very exciting, but what is exciting is that my body fat percentage has gone down 2%!

This just shows me that I am on the right track.

Sometimes we expect progress with the LORD to be "fast." We expect to see results almost instantaneously but the truth of the matter is that it takes time and hard work to "grow" in the LORD. We need to be intentional about growing in our spiritual lives by spending time in the Word, in prayer, and with other believers.

The same can be said for my training program at the gym. Progress is slow, but the progress is steady. I am intentional about my efforts and results, albeit small, can be seen. Be encouraged--even if your progress is small.

Conviction: Eat healthier!

I claim that I eat healthy food. To say that healthy food is not always an option is some times the truth, but usually just an excuse. I do get frustrated when I can't eat healthy and am "forced" to eat what has been provided for me. At times I need to eat what has been provided to be respectful, but usually I end up eating what is there because, well, it's there. And therein lies my biggest problem: I eat "what's there." I'm not going to starve any time soon, so why do I feel like I need to eat--even if it is "meal junk"? How often am I eating when I'm hungry anyway, and not just eating because it's "that" time?

I don't purchase junk food (unless you count the occasional dark chocolate), but others come and visit my apartment and bring junk with them. They bring in the chips, the soda, the brownies, the candy, etc. A group of ladies come to my apartment every Thursday night for a Bible Study and they always bring snacks to share with the group. We were doing mainly healthy things for a long time, but that changed when the seasons changed and not as many healthy options were available. Oh no--I'm just making another excuse! They know I LOVE twizzlers and someone usually brings me some. I eat them to be "respectful"--another excuse.

I grew up in the inner city in North Philadelphia where healthy food literally was not available. There were no supermarkets in the neighborhood and we didn't have a car. I remember taking the bus with my mom and my siblings to the supermarket. Not fun. My mom doesn't really cook and when she did she made "junk." My idea of a meal was a Philly soft pretzel on my way to school in the mornings with a hug and a bag of chips from the corner store for lunch. The corner store was where you did your household shopping from laundry soap to cigarettes to macaroni and cheese. The poor people's market. There were no fruit and veggies available.

I grew up eating like this and didn't really get to "make" my own food choices until I moved away to college (again, another excuse?). It was in college where I began to learn about how and what to eat. I met with a nutritionist several times in graduate school and was proactive about learning how to eat healthier. I felt better and invested more in my health.

I moved to a section of NY where food is not only expensive, but difficult to access. Again, I don't have a car and will not have a car until June when I move. The place that I live provides lunch and dinner daily, but it's not good for me. They try as much as they can to provide healthy food, but it's hard when cooking for a large group of people.

Which finally brings me to my conviction...I need to stop making excuses and need to eat healthy! The investment in my health will be worth it. I know that already. I've done it before. It's just inconvenient to eat healthy while living here--another excuse. I shop at Trader Joe's but TJ's isn't close and I always have to borrow a car to get there--I'm still making excuses!

I need to do it. I want to do it. Writing this blog is my commitment to it. I need to eat healthier.

Bosu Ball

I unfortunately had to take an entire week off from the gym. I was really sick. I slept a lot, which was nice. I am behind in the interval training as a result and am repeating the week I did before I got sick.

I am getting back into my routine and needed something to do today inbetween interval days. I decided to do a bosu ball video. The bosu is always sitting alone in the cardio room at the gym. I've never seen anyone use it seriously, just goofing off. I don't like workout videos a lot, so I thought I would give this one a try.

I learned a lot, mainly that the thing is called a "bosu." I learned that it's hard! I am venturing that it is really good for the lower body as you are constantly shifting and moving in an attempt to keep your balance. You really feel whatever you are doing with it almost immediately, which I like.

I'll try it again some time next week.

being sick=boo

So I'm sick. I knew it was coming. I have gone almost the entire season without getting sick.

This past weekend was a very busy one since I didn't have off. It has taken its toll not only on my body, but on many people around me as well.

There is a reason the Lord REQUIRES us to take a Sabbath.

I have been reading a lot today and trying just to take an easy. I just don't like feeling like I am getting behind or off track with my workout routine. The routine is good for me.

Lord, what are you teaching me while I sit here with a sore throat, runny nose, headache, and fever?

End of week 3

I just ended week three of the interval training this morning.

I feel pretty good about it, although I thought I was going to die on the bike while pedaling as hard as I possibly could have...

I have also been re-evaluating the time I spend with the Lord these past couple of weeks. I need to make sure that I just don't discipline myself to do devotions, but need to make sure that I do them from the heart--"devotion". Some people spend hours a day studying the Bible, but their heart is not in it. Even if my time is less than what it could and probably should be, the important thing is that I am doing it from the heart.

Five more weeks to go for this interval training. Let's see if my body changes.

HIIT

I started interval training this past week. At the moment it's an eight week program. We'll see how it goes.

I voiced my frustrations to the fitness consultant/trainer/guru at the gym and she came up with this interval training idea.

Basically I workout out less time, but use the time more wisely. I've done something similar in the past.

She also added more stuff on the ball and less free weight stuff. I like the ball.

The most difficult thing for me at the moment are the chin-ups. My upper arms are weak.

There are times in life when the Lord calls us to re-focus on Him so that we can be more productive with our time. We may be working for him (as I am full-time) but we need an adjustment here or there. As I take these next eight weeks to re-energize my workout routine I am also re-focusing on the Lord. May you do the same.

Wii Fit age:36

I recently had my body fat and all of that other stuff measured/calculated.
My weight is in the healthy range, as is my BMI and body fat percentage. I happy pleased with this, but I still want to improve. I haven't dropped any weight, but my body fat percentage is slowly improving.

I was feeling pretty good about myself until I tried out a friends Wii Fit and it told me that my Wii fit age is 36! There is nothing wrong with being 36, but I am 24. Naturally I was alarmed, especially since everything else the Wii board measured was impressively accurate. Why 36?

My friend explained to me that it has to do with my "center of balance," which basically means that I have bad posture.

Any ideas for posture improvement? If you remember from an earlier post I have lower back issues from a car accident and I know that my posture can contribute to the lower back issue as well. Any ideas?