Hunting for Health

Discovering how to improve my health day by day and hoping people can learn from my experiences

Improvement Needed March 14, 2010

So this week has been a big fail on the 40 day move every day challenge, but that just means a big marginal improvement this week, right?!  I have done No More Trouble Zones twice (including today),  I did Zumba Monday and Tuesday, and I can not remember doing any other exercise this week 😦  I think I am also going to go for a little jog soon because it is just too pretty not to!

I did order the Meltdown Yoga by my fav Jillian Michales, the Shiva Rea Creative Core Abs, and Zumba Advanced DVDs.  They came in Friday and I need to try them, so they will def keep me busy and motivated this week!  I am also going to try some workouts from New Rules of Lifting for Women.  I am actually really excited about it because even before losing weight,   I would strength train and loved it!  I just did not really know what I was doing, so it did not produce results.  Well, actually I am also hypothyroid and I was not on thyroid meds at that time, so any attempt at weight loss and getting fit would not work until I was treated with hormones but that is a topic for another post. 

I also think I am going to Austin at the end of the week, which should be so much fun!  I went to school at UT and my old roommate still lives there, so we are going to have some girl time.  I think we are actually also even going to try to fit in some of my fav workout classes that I used to take in college.  I had a favorite kickboxing instructor that has never been replaced since moving back to Dallas.  All of the classes I have tried here just do not compare!  He was just so upbeat and fun but hard at the same time!  There is also a Pilates class that I loved that I will def have to revisit as well.  We are also planning on doing some classic Austin things like going on Town Lake and wandering around South Congress looking at all the cool jewelry/ vintage stores.  Should be a nice trip with hopefully beautiful weather!

So, I have also been doing a meditation CD that has really put me in a positive mindset and helps me sleep really well.  Don’t judge, but its the Dan Marino Think and Lose CD.  It just makes me feel more at peace with my body as well.  I think there really is something to having the right frame of mind to lose weight.  Have any of you all read the IntenSati book?  Same concept of positive thinking to lose weight.  I bought the book after seeing it on the Today Show, but I have not really done anymore than skim a few pages.  What do you think, is some of losing weight in your mind?

Ok, well I am kind of all over the place today.  I think it’s from my allergies since I was outside all day for the St. Patty’s Day Parade and block party downtown.  It was fun, but lots of pollen in the air does not do my body good.  I did take all of my allergy meds in the morning and popped nettles throughout the day, so it could be worse if I had not done so.

Happy Sunday!

xoxo Erin

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Bouncing Back March 9, 2010

Filed under: Weightloss — Erin @ Hunting for Health @ 12:08 pm
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So after my moodiness surrounding the number on my scale yesterday, I did a few things that really helped:

  • I did No More Trouble Zones DVD (Jillian Michaels)
  • I went to Zumba with an amazing instructor who is always positive and really lifted me up
  • I realized this is just a set back and I need to form and action plan, follow it, and move on (easier said than done)
  • I also realized I needed to turn this frown upside down so I did some meditation to turn my thinking into more positive thoughts

So, I decided I am going to research heavy lifting and see if I think its right for me.  I think it is, but I need to be informed.  I need to realize this is just a minor setback that can easily be rectified.  I need to eat more veggies (I only eat them at 1-2 of my 5 mini-meals).  I hate that I let the scale get to me so much, but abandoning it just does not work for me :(.  I think I can weigh myself once a week so I do not become obsessive but at the same time am held responsible for my eating.  Weight just plays with my mind so much and I thought I was beyond those thought processes but I guess I am not.

Today I am going to do a little yoga now to make my sore muscles (from Jillian Michaels) feel better and to put me in more of a zen place.  My fav Zumba class is also tonight, so I am going to go to that as well.  There is also a Whole Foods trip in my future today, we found a tequila lime rubbed salmon that is TO DIE FOR = dinner tonight!  I also need some essentials like broccoli, Fage 2%, stevia, strawberry mineral water, you know the usual. 

Today I am also promising myself I will call back recruiters and get some resumes out.  I am writing it on here so I actually do it!  So, I have not really talked about my life situation, but I graduated from UT Austin this August.  Some endocrine issues got in the way after graduation, so I have been living at home with my lovely parents, Marianne and Kevin.  I finally have my thyroid and pituitary issues worked out as of two weeks ago I started feeling better, so now I am on the job hunt!  I love to work, I just hate to look for work but who doesn’t?  So many things to do, I better get started on them now!

Have a great afternoon blog friends, and I will be back later tonight!

xoxo Erin

 

Food Journal and Exercise Rut March 8, 2010

Filed under: Allergies,Exercise,Food Choices,Weightloss — Erin @ Hunting for Health @ 11:43 am
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Goals for this week:

  • Start food journal (discussion below)
  • Do JM No More Trouble Zones 3 times
  • Add more veggies to each mini meal
  • Be religious about taking allergy meds
  • Send out resumes times 50!
  • Get to Zumba at least 3 times
  • Go to Hot Yoga
  • Make something new and interesting for dinner

 

So, starting tomorrow (I need to find a spiral)  I am going to start food journalling (is that a word?).  I am not going to track my calories, but I feel like I have been doing a lot of unnecessary mindless eating which is not good.  When I lost my 35 pounds, I would track my calories online.  But I found myself a little too obsessed with the numbers (I am a math kind of person) and I would end up eating lower calorie foods that usually contained too many chemicals.  I do not want to get like this again, so I am just going to simply write down everything that I eat and make sure I am getting my daily water and veggies in.  No daily plate, just a plain, old spiral so that number crunching and minimizing does not ensue.

I want to lose 5 to 10 more pounds (not only for vanity reasons but it would also help my PCOS), and I think getting rid of my mindless eating could really help in reaching this goal.  I have also been doing more cardio in order to accomplish this.  Zumba is my new favorite thing, it really is just fun to me!  I am actually thinking about getting the Zumba DVDs because Zumba is only offered 3 times a week at my gym :(.  I know, I sound a little DVD obsessed lately, but I just need a change in routine and do not know where to start.  I think I need more strength training and a better mix of cardio, but I am just not inspired lately.  Does anyone have suggestions for routines?  Help a sista out, lol!

 

40 Day Challenge March 1, 2010

Filed under: Workouts — Erin @ Hunting for Health @ 11:54 am
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So, I know I am a little late in starting this since lent has already started, but I decided I am going to do Kristin’s at Iowa Girl Eats’ 40 Day Challenge!  The Challenge it to get moving everyday, even if it is just for a short amount of time (but the goal is for at least 20 minutes).  Everyone can take part, bloggers and non-bloggers alike.  To join in on the challenge, just leave a comment on her 40 day tab.  This challenge is a way to be accountable and get moving more.

I work out 5 days a week usually, but this is a good goal that will get me moving everyday and hopefully help me lose those last ten pounds.  Also, my doctor suggested I walk for half an hour everyday outside to get my sunshine since my vitamin D levels are a little low.  It is raining today, so I have not walked today, but I am going to Zumba tonight!

I LOVE Zumba!  I did competitive dance a lot of my life until my junior year of high school when I quit because it was taking up too much of my life.  I have never gone back, but Zumba fills my dance void.  And it is exercise I really enjoy doing!  Especially when I take from the instructor I am going to tonight.  She just has such a positive energy that radiates to the rest of the class and gets everyone else in a great mood.

Happy Monday!

xoxo Erin