Motivation

There's a great quote that I like use to help drive my motivation:
~There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results~

This quote really separates the motivated from the dabblers. I have been both at different times. I am typically more motivated than not, and this really keeps me focused on what's important and what I'm striving for each day. I have been getting up faithfully each morning and working out. I have adjusted my work schedule to make sure I can fit it in before work and then hit the gym at work before heading home on days I'm feeling particularly motivated. I feel so much stronger this week. my sleep is better, my skin is clearer, my eyes are brighter, my cheeks are rosier, and I look amazing. It would be so much easier to sleep in for an extra hour, but I don't want easy, I want strong, I want sweat, I want to be challenged and I want RESULTS. 


I've also stayed w/my standard eating plan and turned down 2 invitations this week for HH and dinner. 
The paleo lifestyle really works for me and I never feel deprived. It's amazing how adjusting just a few things in your diet can make your entire body operate at a higher level of efficiency. 
My weekly eating schedule is repetitive for the simplicity it provides and also to make my life easier. 
Breakfast - Chobani fat free yogurt & coffee w/cream 
Snack - raw almonds or carrots
Lunch - Organic salad: romaine, avocado, tomato, turkey breaks and salsa for dressing - sometimes I add some cottage cheese if I don't have a meat protein. 
Snack - almonds/carrots/veggies
Dinner....i don't always eat dinner, i let my body tell me what it wants and when....if I do eat dinner it's relatively light and something I can have for lunch the next day. Fish, salad or lean chicken. 

I repeat this every day M - F. It may seem boring, but I enjoy it. Food is fuel and it needs to be efficient, clean, and simple. I vary it on the weekends, usually by grilling out or going to a restaurant. 

One of my very best friends is getting married in October - the 1st - and I want to be in great shape for her big day. I have a beautiful dress from the Ralph Lauren Ready to Wear collection that I want to wear. It's long and flowing, black w/a white flower print and it's a halter style. It's stunning on me because of how tall I am and my broad shoulders. I haven't had an opportunity to wear it in a few years, so I want to make  sure I'm in super shape so I can do it justice. I have 60 days to work on myself before I fly back east for her wedding and to also visit w/my family that week. So, this is even more motivation. The wedding, seeing my parents and friends. I am committing to being hyper focused for the next 2 months to achieve the most optimum results possible. Being paleo, working out every day - even weekends, eating smart and staying focused...i will hit my marks, I'm sure of it. 


Today was 45 minutes at high intensity and resistance and then 30 pushups w/ 2 planks in between each set of pushups. 


That's all for now. Have a great primal day!

Insomnia week

Since last Sunday through Friday morning I had such severe insomnia, my work suffered. I could barely function, getting only 1-2 hrs of sleep a night. I started hallucinating. I cleaned my house from top to bottom, worked out and while i desperately wanted to avoid caffeine, i had to drink it to function.
Finally got some sleep this weekend. Yay!

Another week down

I worked out nearly every day except for Thursday. I worked out 2x a day a few days this week. But by Thursday I was so utterly exhausted I took a break. I hopped back on the train Friday morning and I'm back on the move again today. I am getting a massage this morning which will be wonderful since my body just aches all over from a variety of things, but mostly because I havent had a massage in over 3 yrs.I am feeling stronger every day I work out. Having Valerie on my team is encouraging and keeps me on point.
My nutrition has also been a key factor in my success. Every day w/out grains/wheat/processed food is a good day. A day that i dont feel lethargic, tired, head ache or have an upset stomach. I have found my thinking to be clearer, my energy higher and stomach flatter and less temperamental. I always thought I had a sensitive stomach, now I realize that it was gluten/grains related. It really explains so much.
Well, I'm off to the basement, gotta go workout!

Have a great primal day!

Paleo Progress: Workout Partner & Persistence

Valerie and I worked out after work yesterday and it felt great to have a partner in my fitness goals and to stand by my commitments. I've been bringing in my breakfast and lunch so I don't have to scramble for lunch and wont be tempted by the evil "bagel Friday" that my office hosts every Friday. Valerie aka  Hummus Honey, is also on the path of enLIGHTenment w/me. We are determined to not let the office snackage and happy hours lead us into temptation.
Even though it's Friday, and it would be easier to go home or to happy hour, we're hitting the gym again after work to start our weekend off right. Then I'm going to dinner w/my friend Franco and his new girlfriend, this ought to be interesting. He's in the middle of a divorce from one of my dear friends but he lived w/us during their separation, so we've grown quite close. I'm apprehensive since he was so devastated by his divorce so I'm going to hold off on making any suppositions until I meet her and see them together.

The place we're eating has a paleo item on the menu inspired by the owner's personal trainer, who is also a paleo follower - so at least I know I have one option if nothing else works. 

Yesterday and today I made a lighter version of  Mark's Big Ass Salad and brought Greek yogurt for breakfast. I made chicken scallopini w/green beans for dinner last night. Travis knows I'm determined and he's been supportive. He's going to eat pizza and junk but knows I'm not joining him on that road.

Tomorrow is Seattle Tilth's Chicken Coop Tour and we're going to take a look at other coops around the Sound and see if anything inspires us. I'd like to redo our coop and make it prettier. I know, I need to get a life, but it's so much fun, I can't help it.

I'm going to workout on Saturday and Sunday at home - elliptical and weights. On weekdays I'll continue to work out 2x a day, and then hopefully I'll start to see that scale move in the southerly direction.

That's all for now....have a great primal weekend!

Another Step Forward

Today I joined the gym at work to help me progress toward my weight loss goals. I am still working out in the morning but now instead of sitting in traffic for an hour on my home-bound commute, I'm going to workout during that time and leave afterward when traffic is much lighter. The benefits are numerous, I get 2 workouts a day and save myself aggravation and gas waiting in the horrible traffic and I'll get to workout w/my friend Valerie (she works w/me and we're cubemates). She and I are both committed to getting fitter and taking control of our lives. I will be bringing my clothes tomorrow so we can workout after work. Tonight i'm going to go shopping to get my paleo foods w/Robb Wolf's shopping list.
I am so excited to reinvigorate my journey toward being more paleo, healthier and finding balance in my life.