The ELFF Diet

Begin at the Beginning

I've done day one and day two of the Couch to 5k program.

Shh, but...

It's not as difficult as I remember.

I'm afraid to say that, because I'm SURE that day three and above will smack me right.back.down where I belong.

But it's a good start and I'd highly recommend it, especially if you have an iPhone - because NOTHING beats not having to remember to look at a stupid stopwatch or try to count to 60 while you are running - you just turn on your music, start up the C25K, and wait for the siren to sound that tells you to change speed.

Running. Again. Me.

GAH.

21's

When I let my trainer go, I decided that I wasn't going to give up on working out - and I haven't, but it's been hard for me to stay motivated and really whip my arms into the shape that I'd like. Finally, I decided that enough was enough and I emailed my fitness inspiration, MIZFIT, who has the most amazing body I've EVER seen. I begged for her ideas.

She was kind and gracious and looked over the routine I'd emailed her. She indicated that I probably wasn't lifting heavy enough weights and I was doing too many reps. So I changed up my routine. I also added one of the exercises that she recommended called 21's.

One of the best things about MizFit's website is the entire library of videos - she demonstrates every exercise. I watched the video and the exercise looked easy enough, so I tried it.

Whoa. My arms were shaking at the end. I did it with 15 pound weights.

Watch the video and try the exercise. I'm interested to know what you think - and share your favorite arm exercise with me!

Tuesday is the New Monday

Monday looked like this.

• Breakfast - 2 crunchy granola bars, a cut up apple and coffee. Lunch, whole wheat penne with sauce (not the best choice) green beans and bread (see also, not the best choice - look no further as to why the black jeans of choice are beyond tight), dinner 1/2 of a small steak (product review, not exceptional, which is why I only ate 1/2), grapes and broccoli. I did not have the coffee I usually have in the middle of the day. I drank 64+ ounces of water.
• Exercise was 20 minutes of weight training, 1 hour of boxing class (not the hardest level of class, more like a moderate level of intensity), 50 squats, 25 sit ups and 25 push ups outside of class.  35 seconds flex arm hang. (insert smilie face icon here!)

So far, this is Tuesday.

• Breakfast  - 1 piece of whole wheat bread with 1 T peanut butter and 1T pumpkin butter. 16 ounces iced coffee. One apple for snack. Diet To go 400 calorie lunch - short ribs with mashed potatoes and green bean medley. One fruit smoothie - frozen mango, strawberry and pineapple blend with low fat frozen vanilla yogurt and V-8 Fusion juice with one scoop of protein powder. Dinner was two small pieces of cheese pizza and green beans. I also ate one thin slice of tureky while I was making lunches for tomorrow.
• Exercise - I walked an hour by myself - 4 miles - and I took Muay Thai class tonight.

I'm Not Dead (Yet)

My favorite song from my favorite musical SPAMALOT

Well, hello, there. I'm not quite sure that anyone even reads here anymore - I mean, I am so sporadic here that I had my ads pulled for a while. But putting on my winter pants this week has snapped me back to reality in a HURRY and it has become embarrassingly apparent that I need to change up what I'm doing. Boxing class is awesome and wonderful and I thoroughly enjoy it - but it is not enough. Either that or I need to eat way less, but I do not handle being hungry well. It's clear to me that I've gotten lazy and I need to snap out of the downhill slide before it becomes a full scale landslide.

So tomorrow I pick up my shoes and begin again.The pulled piriformis still aches. I think it always will. Regardless, I'm going to pick myself up and start the Couch to 5k program YET AGAIN - I know, I know, I can here the laughter already, Sure you're starting it again, we've heard THAT before.

I'm pledging to get on this site every evening and just put up a quick note up about what I ate, both great choices and not so great, and my exercise. I know I can do this. I just need to be accountable, and this is the place for me. Even if no one reads here, at least I know I'm here.

A reader asked a question, and my response is below the fold...