Lifestyle Challenge Final Results Are In!

Woohoo!  Our Challengers made it through the 8 weeks of staying focused on their individual goals and habits.  Our top three point earners are:

1st Place: Dona Lisa

2nd Place: Tony

3rd Place: Leona

“I didn’t make a perfect 20- but stil have been really happy with my progress” — Julie (Who joined us half-way in.)

“I actually got my saddle on the horse by myself!!  All 45 – 50 pounds of it!!  Couldn’t believe it.  Am doing these yoga upper arm exercises and they are working!!!  yippee.  I win for me.” –  Amy

” Now for the biggest bonus…following my example, my husband has started to exercise & become more aware of what he’s eating & drinking. He’s already lost 15lbs. ” — Dona Lisa

Awesome work everyone!

Yes, Even I Need A Personal Trainer

Last week on Facebook my status was, “I need a personal trainer!”  It created quite a response including several people who simply wrote, “huh?”   Yes, it’s true.  Personal training is about motivating people to push themselves out of their comfort zone to become, stronger, faster, leaner, etc.  So what about me?

How many people do you know that work in a restaurant or store and say, ” I never want to eat/shop there again!”  That’s how I have been feeling about the gym.  I know hundreds, possibly even a 1000 exercises to do using free-weights, machines, medicine balls, bosu balls, resist-a-balls, bands, jump ropes and so on.  Sometimes I’m just sick of it, like right now.

My solution is to look for classes and colleagues to help.  Last week I simply started following my trainer friend, Shannon Morgan, around the gym as she did her workout.  She grabbed a ball and did crunches so I followed suit.  She did a wall sit (which I hate and would have never done more than a minute without her) and so did I.  My competitive nature even had me pulling more weight than I was ready for and she politely reminded me I didn’t have to do EXACTLY what she was doing.  Just like that within 30 minutes I had completed a workout that I know would have never happened had she not been willing to let me join in.  Thank you Shannon!

The following day I went back to the Cirque School in Los Angeles on Hollywood Blvd.  This time our conditioning class added in some trapeze tricks.  Which . . . I guess I like but it really hurts to hang by your knees.  It feels like it’s squishing some tendons that weren’t intended to be squeezed but I’m gonna try to tough it out on that one.  I did learn some amazing pull-up exercises that have left me really sore again.

Those new ideas led me into today’s gym adventure.  I showed my training mentor and friend, Paul Redman, some variations of the trapeze pull-ups that he could do on the cable rack.  He is one of the strongest people I know so it was fun to watch him pound out 15 reps of things that I could barely do 5 of.  It was also nice to hear that his arms got really torched and he was concerned he couldn’t finish his workout.   (Trainers all have an evil side.)   In exchange he made me do 6 handstand push-ups.  I got into a handstand, he held my feet and I had to touch my head to the floor and push myself back up.  Luckily he was able to pull my body up so the last one didn’t leave me a jumbled pile on the floor.

So I will keep you posted on the various ways I come up with to stay in shape without going into the gym and going about my usual routine.  Like I told my friend Leona who started turning orange from eating too many oranges a day, “Variety is the spice of life.”

Lifestyle Challenge Week 6 Results

Although the season doesn’t actually change until June 21st, the spirit of summer is here with the passing of the Memorial Day weekend.  I encourage everyone to take a deep breath and re-align themselves with the goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the Lifestyle Challenge.   Ready?    Breath in . . . . . . . . Breath out . . . . . .

Here are your point totals from the last 6 weeks:

Maintaining a Healthy Balance on a Cruise Vacation

Cruises are known for being gluttonous.  The comedian on our Princess cruise in the Eastern Caribbean made a joke that he was simply scheduled to give us a break between meals.

My family and I did our best to maintain a sense of balance on our 7 night adventure.  Don’t get me wrong.  I was officially off my cleanse and had a “license to chill” (as Jimmy Buffet would say) but I wanted to avoid the aching belly and feelings of remorse when I disembarked.

Within the first few hours we stopped into the fitness center to see what they had to offer.  We signed up for Pilates and Spin classes and grabbed the schedule for the week.  I was impressed with the equipment and could tell by the introduction with the instructors that we would enjoy including our workouts in the vacation routine. Read more »

Lifestyle Challenge – Week 5 Results

I appreciate all the participants who kept the healthy ship afloat!  I got rid of my sea legs and am happy to find people are still rising the to the Lifestyle Challenge.

Here is some feedback from last week’s Challenge:

“Lousy week for personal goal, but great for cruising.” — Bob

“The good news is that I did a kick-ass run last night that was way faster than what I’ve done before.” — Leona

“Got my exercise in 6 of 7 days.  Some days, like last night, I was exercising at the very end of the day but I got it in!” — Dona Lisa

“When things get busy, I’ll accept to eat a pile of junk as long as it’s convenient and cheap. And I often hear myself say (to myself) tomorrow, I’ll do better.   And that will compensate for this… But it really doesn’t.” — Jason

Lifestyle Challenge — Week 4 Results

Congratulations Dona Lisa, Tony and Marty!  You are the top three point earners for the first half of the Challenge.  Keep up the good work.

Most of the participants have increased the difficulty of their goals for the last half of the Challenge.  Re-commit yourself to make healthier choices in your life. 

I am currently living the high life in the Caribbean right now so I expect you all to maintain balance in the universe and stay on the straight and narrow until I return.    Ha!  

Lifestyle Challenge — Week 3 Results

The novelty has waned a bit and we are now in the heart of the Challenge.  Life has thrown some of our participants some big curve balls but I am proud to say that they have all remained committed.

I am thrilled to have two international participants but communication time lags a bit so their scores haven’t been posted.  Don’t be surprised by a sneak attack from behind from them!

Next week marks the first round of prizes AND the time to re-evaluate goals and make them either more challenging or more realistic depending on individual experience.

Here’s some feedback from the Challengers this week

“This challenge makes me focus more on the things which are a benefit to me whether part of my goal set or not.  These habits are infectious and begin to permeate other areas of my daily life and are habit forming to those as well.” — Marty

“These last couple of weeks have been crazy but I am back on track starting today!!” — Amy

Lifestyle Challenge — Week 1 Results

I always love the enthusiasm in the first week of the Lifestyle Challenge! Everyone has been anxious for an excuse to start making these positive changes in their lives and the first week starts out with a bang.  Here’s how the points stacked up in the first week:

Here is some feedback from a few participants on the week:

“My biggest challenge this week was reading 1 hr. I missed two of the five days. I think having the 1 hr goal instead of 1/2 hour is scaring me off. Definitely need to get in earlier in the day too!” — Krisanne

“Getting to bed on time is the biggest challenge. The first night was easy, but then as the week went on it was more challenging. I think it was Thursday night that I looked at the clock & saw it was 5 minutes to bedtime. I flew downstairs, brushed my teeth & washed my face then slipped under the covers with just a minute to spare. (It was kind of fun beating the clock). Without your Lifestyle Challenge, I would have probably been working on stuff for another two hours.” — Dona

“The good news is that my binge (on chocolate) consisted of a tiny portion each time. The bad news is that I lose the same number of points for a tiny slip as I do for a big one. The other good news is that the bad news didn’t lead to me justifying a bigger slip!” — Leona

28 Day Cleanse Program – Day 14 Update

The half way mark!  Yeah!!!!  Right in time for me to go to San Francisco for the weekend and cheat.  *** Sigh***

The last couple of days I have been focusing on really sticking to the recommendation of going 4 hours between meals.  (Snacking in the afternoon is a habit of mine.)  My vegetable intake hasn’t been as great as usual but thanks to the fiber supplement things are “running smoothly.”  It really is amazing how much potty talk goes on when you mention you’re cleansing.  Nothing is sacred.

So how am I preparing for my weekend in my favorite city?  I already measured out my protein shake mixes into three little baggies and stuck them in my shaker cup.  I also threw in a couple of Larabar’s for emergencies.  I notified my friends and hosts what was going on so that they can help me or at least not think I am rude for not eating their pasta or bread that they serve.

Out of the three days and nights, I already know I am going to indulge in some adult beverages at dinner at Izzy’s Steakhouse and brunch at Lime in the Castro.   My goal is to stick to the food restrictions as much as possible.  I already checked to see that Izzy’s has a flourless chocolate cake on the dessert menu.  There is sugar in there but I believe I will be requiring some chocolate that night so I feel that’s a good compromise.

That’s the plan Stan . . . I’ll report what happened on Monday and I’ll be honest . . . scout’s honor.

28 Day Cleanse Program – Day 11 Update

I ordered the fish taco special at lunch.  The sign said it came with rice and beans and a mixed green salad. Perfect!  Corn tortillas, no sauce and the rest works into the plan.  When the waiter brings it to my table there are fish tacos and a pile of french fries.  This is where you need to be assertive and request that they change it to what the sign says.  Phew!  Fried tasty temptation avoided.  If french fries are in my arms reach at a table they will always end up in my mouth.

The waiter brings back the same plate with a mixed salad in a separate bowl.  He says, “They didn’t want to ruin the nice plate so we will just add in the salad.”  “Oh thanks!” I say.  Then there I am left staring at the beautiful, golden potatoes.  I knew this was supposed to be a test of will.  Despite my fingers having a mind of their own and reaching for them a couple of times, my mind was alert enough to stop them before I cheated.  I enjoyed the wonderful tacos and salad and immediately pushed the plate to the opposite end of the table.  Deep breath.  I am successful.

I have to say I am in quite a stride with this program.  The shakes which I drink at least once a day are delicious and filling.  It’s especially helpful to be able to include all the healthy fats.  In each shake I am including a table spoon of flax oil.  There are also these fabulous “fizzy tabs” which are a healthy alternative to a Rockstar or Redbull energy drink.  They contain Vitamin B6 and B12 and Guarana that really give me a burst of energy to get me through the afternoons.

I got a little too enthusiastic about the almond butter however.  I realized that I ate almost an entire jar in a week.  That’s roughly 2 servings a day which equals 34 grams of fat.  That doesn’t count my flax oil and avocados I’ve been eating.  Oops!  My goal is to tone that down a bit this week.  Despite the over-indulgence in healthy fat I have managed to lose 3 pounds in the last 11 days.   I am pretty impressed with that.

And the journey continues . . .