Relearning and Remembering Plateau's

So yesterday I had the opportunity to relearn some good ol' fitness information, as well as learning a couple of new things.

We all know that the few of the main ingredients to a successful journey is food, water, exercise (strength and cardio).  We all know that without the combo, the journey could be hard.  If we just have the food, but we aren't building our strength and our cardio...we would lose weight, but it would be losing more muscle then the fat.  If we build on our strength and cardio but continue to eat the junk...you aren't really going to see much of a difference.  The water...well we need to keep hydrated.  It helps our bodies to flush out the toxins and helps flush any water weight we may have put on our bodies.

But there are some things that I think we all know, we definitely have all seen in our journey's, but we tend to get frustrated with and sometimes forget.  That is our lovely plateau.  It happens to all of us.  We all hit that plateau moment.  We all feel frustrated cause the scale and the inches stop coming off.  It is frustrating!!  I have been one of those people who hit that plateau for a week or two...and I let it derail me from my journey.  I have gone on a massive roller coaster ride cause of the plateau's.  I've stayed on ledges for weeks/months/years on end...never budging, never wanting to move.  I was one of the worst offenders...I'd see the progress, huge progress, and just because of a couple of weeks of plateauing...I gave up and saw that progress be thrown out the window.

One thing I have learned from reading Chris Powell's books, and relearned again from my fitness assessment at the gym yesterday, is that we can beat the plateau. Plateauing isn't just because of your "diet" or your exercise.  It's because your body gets used to what you are doing.  If you are doing a "diet" or you do the same exercises day in and day out...your body is going to get used to it!!  Sounds funny, I know...but our bodies are smart.  So you have to switch up your routines.  Switch up the way you eat for a week, trick your body.  Constantly make your body keep guessing on what kind of strength training you are going to do.  Switch up your cardio every now and again...but make it something that you'll like.  Exercise, even though it can be hard, can and should be fun.  Not something you dread.  If you like what you are doing...you are going to keep doing it.

This is something I have to remember...a lot.  I'm a huge "plateau comes, I stop" kind of a person.  I hate that I do that.  It's about time that I change it.  I have to change it.  For myself, for my health, for my family.  I do not want my daughter to learn that when something you don't like comes up, to quit.  I don't want her to know that.  So I have to change.  I need to change the way I think.  I need to prove to myself that the ledges aren't as comfy as they seem and that climbing out it and moving along my journey is worth the fight, and definitely worth the view.

So if any of you hit that plateau and think about giving up...DON'T!!  It isn't worth it.  You are worth it!  You can break through the plateau!!  You can do anything that you put your mind too!!  You are worth fighting for!!  Proving to yourself that you can do it is worth more to you then denying yourself the view from the top!!

Unknown Inspiration

I've been in a funk the past week or so.  It hasn't been fun.  I've been on FB just wondering around and seeing what everyone was up to.  And man...the inspiration that I have received from my friends and family has been unbelievable!!

I have friends going through some major stuff.  These friends may be hurting, and hurting really bad, but they have managed to find the strength to get through it.  They have friends and family who are super supportive of them and what they are going through.  They would do anything to be there for them.  Doesn't matter what they had/have going on in their life...they would drop everything to make sure that they got everything that they needed.  Because of all the support that they have received during this time, they have found the strength.  The strength to keep on going.  I've always known how strong they were, they knew as well, but like the rest of us...the view on your strength gets weakened.  But they stood up, dusted themselves off, and are doing their best to do what they have to do.  Not only for themselves, but for their family.  It is truly inspiring.

I also have friends and family going through a lot of medical issues.  The medical issues just keep getting added on...and they just keep on smiling and enjoying life.  I've been through the massive amounts of medical issues (that one still hasn't been figured out) and it was hard to keep that smile on my face.  I'm not sure if deep down they are freaking out, and just showing on the outside that they are just fine.  Or if they are just choosing to find the best side of it all.  I don't know, I'm just one person whose been through it and couldn't find anything positive about.  But they do inspire me.  Inspire me to keep on going.  Inspire me to find the strength to keep on going.

The inspiration I'm getting from them to find my strength and keep going on my journey is the best gift anyone could ever receive.  The best part is...they do not know that they are giving it.  They do not know the gift they are giving people.  Seeing the strength, the hope, the faith, the love, and the support they not only get but are receiving.  It is truly inspirational.  It is the gift that keeps on giving.  It is the binding agents to our life.
In finding all this inspiration, thanks to a friend of mine, I have to decided to join a challenge.  The challenge is to eat healthier (no added junk/processed foods) and more water.  I'm joining in this challenge.  But I'm going in knowing that if I do stumble, it is okay.  I just get up, dust myself off, forgive myself, and move-on to the next step.  We are human, we are not 100% perfect.  I always forget this, and it is time to start remembering it.

"I am not telling you that it is going to be easy.  But I am telling you that it is going to be worth it." - unknown

Frustrated!

Alrighty...here we go.  I'm trying to stay positive.  Trying to stay away from the ledge.  But I'm teetering...and I'm teetering bad.  I did my monthly weigh-in and measurements today.  And it is sooooo not good!!  Even though I've done my workouts, drank my water, and did my best to watch my food (it still wasn't the greatest...especially Saturday)...I have gained weight and inches.  I'm so disappointed in the fact that this happening and I cannot seem to get a handle on it.

I'm not disappointed in keeping with my water and workout schedule.  Cause I'm nailing it and I feel amazing!!  But I'm so disappointed in the fact I cannot seem to get my food under control.  I feel like I'm fighting a never ending battle.  I know all it will take is one push, one little finger push and I'll fall fast.  I'll fall fast and I'll fall hard.

I want to say positive things.  I want to be like, "Believe in yourself" and "if you hate starting over, stop quitting." I hear them, I see them, I believe them.  I'm just losing faith in my eating.  I thought I knew how to do it.  I've done it before...so why can I not do it now!!  Why can't I figure this out?!

AAAUUUGGGHHH!!!

This is getting so frustrating.  My husband supports me and is trying to help me figure this all out.  But when I get frustrated...and I don't want to hear it.  I just want to figure it out on my own and let that be that.  As you can see that doesn't quite work.  Bitting the hand that wants to help you...not a good decision.  It is taking me a while to figure it out.  I'm going to get better.  That is a one of the goals I have for this week (and something I'm going to have to continue working on).

There it is.  My not so shiny moment.  My frustrated, I'm teetering on the ledge, I'm going to fall, "what do I do" kind of moment.    This is my day today.  We all have these moments.  We are human.  We have our doubts, we have our negative moments.  I have a few hours left in my day and I'm planning on making the most of it with family.  It is turkey black bean taco/burrito,tostada night.  Afterwards, it is on to watch Extreme Weight Loss.  This usually brings me back to inspiration (like last weeks episode with Bruce, he's one inspiring guy...we need more of him and Chris/Heidi Powell in this world) mode.

With that said...I made a promise to do 30 squats, 30 lunges, and 30 swing-ups.  So off I go...time to get all of these in and enjoy my family time.  Tomorrow...more positivity.  A brighter light.  A friend helping me find a soultion to my food problem (thank you Ann).

"Will it be easy?  Nope.  Will it be worth it?  Absolutely." - unknown