Post Holiday Challenge!!

POST HOLIDAY CHALLENGE!

JOIN ME!!

I don't know about you, but I really over extended myself this holiday season. Between getting my thyroid under control, spraining my ankle, stress at work, and being surrounded by constant baked goods and all things sugar and alcohol.....(How about that for a mouth full excuses!!) I am looking a bit pudgy and feeling quite sluggish. 

  

Cocktails, cookies, and lattes!! OH MY!! 
Did I mention the eggnog...... 

YIKES!! 

Well, fret I will not! I believe in taking action and have no doubt I will meet my goals and get back to how I normally eat......

I have never done any kind of elimination challenge, but a fellow trainer in a conversation this past October had told me it was one of the best challenges she personally had ever done. Well those words are still in the back of my head, so I'm going for it! 

My challenge (which my hubbs is doing with me as well) is from Monday, January  5th to Wednesday February 4th (30 days!!) I will completely cut out all alcohol and sweets. With the exception of coconut sugar in my coffee and a little honey in my smoothy, I will take out all sugar and junk as well as wine (OUCH) alcohol, and beers)

I invite you to join me in this very real challenge. Not gonna lie, this will be a great challenge!! Detoxing from sugar is a great struggle for me, and red wine is near and dear to my heart. I'm all in though and hoping to find a few of you who are willing to commit to doing something amazing for yourself as well.

Who's with me??!

Let's do this together!!

Hormones! Gotta Love em!

This morning I woke up 2 minutes before my alarm went off in a night sweat. Hair, clothes, sheets, WET!.......

• More around the middle

• Night sweats

• Wine in the evening to relax

• Sore boobs

• Reduced energy
• Anxiety

 Perimenopause.

The word alone should make me shutter. My husband and I have been looking at houses with bigger garages.  I have to wonder if he is dreaming of man cave where he can hide for the next 10 years.

We both watched my mom go through this though. She almost didn't make it out alive (one more year and I'm sure one of us would've killed  her and hid the body... I say this with much love) 'They' say your mother is  a good indication of how it will go down for you.  Nope! HU UH!  Not gonna happen!


These are things no one talks about. They are too personal. Embarrassing even! Fact is, we talk about it so little, that it is best that we just suffer in silence and hope our loved ones don't notice. Bullshit!! This is a health matter! This affects our quality of life, and I'm talking to the men here too!!! Guys, if she ain't happy....... Neither are you my friend!

 

So what do we do?? Well, I'll tell you what I'm not going to do. I won't go to my family physician and ask him for help. Why? Glad you asked! He is an idiot!! Yeah, I said it. When it comes to female issues, he is about as clueless as a door knob trying to heat a house. He will  take the first course of action needed to heal all women everywhere. 

 Birth control pill + antidepressant fixes all female things!! 

 

 My course of action?

READ. EXPLORE. LEARN. EXPERIMENT. 

STAY EDUCATED, INVOLVED, AND PROACTIVE IN MY OWN HEALTH.

I'm starting with the book, The Hormone Cure by Dr. Sara Gottfried, MD. I absolutely love her philosophies, logic, science, and approach to women's health. She is also supported by, and partnered with leading doctors such as, Dr. Chistiane Northrup, M.D., and Dr. Mark Hyman, M.D. .  She deals in functional medicine and talks in great detail about lifestyle, how we move, breath, sleep, eat, and supplement. She also educates on how to find out what hormones are imbalanced and how to balance them using multiple methods, not just limited to pharmaceutical. 

I have only just begun my quest for balanced hormones. When I talk to people about this, they sarcastically wish me luck . Seems many have been down this road with little, to no avail. That won't stop me from staying proactive and educating myself. Doing what I am doing  is undoubtedly going to make more improvements in this journey than doing nothing at all and leaving it to be my family physician's problem. 

 

Steps I have begun to take thus far?

(I am in no way suggesting or prescribing methods for anyone who reads this. I am simply sharing what I am trying in my own journey) 

• yoga everyday! (whether I have 15 or 90 minutes, for my personality, this is imperative) I'm on day 13 right now with success =)
• Maca  1 TBSP/daily Brand bought from Marlenes Whole Foods Store: Healthforce SuperFood MacaForce-vanilla spice  ( maca described by John Gray, Author of Men are from MarsWomen are from Venus )   
• Stepping away from my nightly glass (or 2 ) of red. ~ this one is scary because wine relaxes me at the end of the day when I am otherwise wired, or anxious. 
• Letting go of unrealistic expectations of myself  (so hard!)
• learning about supportive vitamins that assist with my hormone imbalances
• Researching Gynecologists in my area that practice functional medicine and specialize in perimenopause 

• Asking my husband for help and support. (this one is the hardest for me! I don't ask for help easily. I have serious baggage with this one.) 

I have only been actively at this for about a month, and there are many more steps to take in this journey.  Today, I am sharing this with all of you because, no matter your age, you too will have to think about this (guys too!). It is my hope that we brake the chains of being quietly helpless, while our doctors load us up with hormones and antidepressants. I'm sure I won't get through this with zero issues, but I know I (and those around me) will be much better off  if I take responsibility for my health, and do my part.  I hope to inspire others to do the same. 

And one more peace (word play) of advice for myself; don't take life so serious. Stay light. Have fun! 

 
 If you have ideas/inspirations, throw em my way! Frustrated? Talk to me! But, let's keep it positive. The last thing anyone wants to hear is, "I've tried it all and NOTHING helps!" Let's change that dialog. 

More resources I have found:

Dr. Sara Gottfried's Free online hormone quiz 

The Health Bridge FREE Podcast : Full of lots of great stuff!!!  

The Health Bridge's youtube page (wellchannel) incase you don't have itunes 

Yoga by Candace Youtube page 10-60 minute sessions Love her 


 



   

A Fitness Instructor's rant - Is group fitness getting lost in weight loss greed?

Why am I blogging tonight?

Recently 4 weight loss companies (Sensa Products, L’Occitane, HCG Diet Direct and LeanSpa) were charged with fraud by the Federal Trade Commission.The New York Times reported, "On Tuesday, the commission charged four companies with deceptively marketing weight-loss products, asserting they made “unfounded promises” that consumers could shed pounds simply by using their food additives, skin creams and other dietary supplements." ( Read full article here!! ) 

If you have followed my blogs or me  on facebook , you know I am a passionate advocate for learning about "real" foods and living a healthy life style. I am also relentlessly fed up with the weight loss industry and all the lies they feed us to profit off of our emotions. We are so emotional about how we look, we will buy into anything that will promise us success! And they all promise success, Right?

As a fitness instructor, it is my job to keep up with my credits for my re-certification each year.  Being just a few credits shy of applying for my re-cert, I decided to take an on-line course to finish up. In reading my material on nutrition and supplements, I learned that weight loss products, supplements, and shakes sold as supplements and often used as meal replacements are NOT regulated by the FDA. According to the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) , "Shockingly, dietary supplement safety is the sole responsibility of the manufacturer, not the FDA or any other government agency."  Although some companies can claim to adhere to regulations and guidelines for the manufacturing of supplements, that simply means they are following the guide lines for production, and has little to no affect to the content of the product.  

In another online credit course through AFAA, I am reminded that it is advised I refrain from selling or advocating the use of weight loss products, meal replacements, and/or supplements..... Which brings me to one of many reasons I am writing this blog.

WHY ARE WEIGHT LOSS SUPPLEMENTS BEING SOLD IN GROUP FITNESS??!  

When I developed my passion for group fitness, instructors were  my gateway to fitness and the inspiration for learning. Most classes were created from the passion and creativity of the instructor who brought the fun and excitement into movement. In addition, they fostered a family of fitness fanatics and gave the example of a fit lifestyle. I WAS HOOKED!! Step, kickbox, heavy bag boxing, weight lifting, yoga..... I loved it all! And, I loved that the only motive for teaching was passion and fun!  No sales!  No pressure! No fees! (unlike the trainers) Just passion and fun! 

Now a days (am I that old?) most classes are purchased through a company, learned by the instructor, and taught in the gyms. It has proven to be quite successful and I'm not knocking that (I have a blast in many of those classes). But what gets my panties in a bunch is when I see weight loss products being sold on the aerobic floor (or through instructors).

              "The Healthiest meal of the Day"

         ?!?!Really?!?!  

Just what are we teaching our class goers?! You have to work hard in the gym, but not the kitchen?? Just come take our classes and then fill up on pills and shakes to get healthy?? NO!! 

 Let me be clear when I tell you (present company included) most instructors ARE NOT QUALIFIED to  sell you supplements. All we know about the product is what you know through the company's website (remember, it is the sole responsibility of the manufacturer, not the FDA to ensure safety and effectiveness of product). If we are selling this to you, it is not because we are educated to do so or because we know it works any better than real food - we're not and we don't. It is because the company we bought our choreography from sold us this to sell to you for the sole purpose of bringing in more revenue to their company. ($$$$$). PERIOD. 

Why does this get my panties in a bunch? Because, like many of you, I looked to my fitness instructors as a role model of, "healthy". Back in the day when I was overweight and looking to get healthy, if approached by my instructor, I may have purchased their product as my solution. Why? Because I didn't know what 'healthy' was. All I knew was they looked healthy and I wanted that for myself. 

I hate seeing my stomping ground being turned into another venue for weight loss supplement profit (10 more burpees then..... buy my shake to lose weight and feel great)

Stay true. Never stop learning. And remember, good health and a healthy weight come from healthy living and real, whole, foods. 

It may be a new year, but if you truly want a new you that will last well into, and beyond 2015, it will take what all of those magic promises don't want you to know (and it's not money). It will take  time, effort, and a great deal of learning. 
Always True,
~Kelly

Fitness Vlog : Goals "Turn Your Intent into Identity"