Aha Moments

Hi Everyone how’s your Saturday going so far?  I have a guest post for you all again today from one of my favorite healthy living bloggers, Marci. If you haven’t read her blog yet you should definitely head over and check it out. She has a lot of great tips and recipes to inspire and motivate you.

My name is Marci, and I blog at www.marcigilbert.com about healthy living. I love to bake and cook and balance indulgent desserts with exercise. In the Fall of 2009 I started to have some “aha moments” that changed the way I plan what I eat and how I exercise.

Aha: The importance of protein

For instance, a visit with a local nutritionist helped me understand that everything I eat, including snacks, should include a protein and a carbohydrate. Without getting too scientific, proteins increase energy and reduce fatigue. They also build muscle and satisfy our stomach with good-for-you calories. Carbohydrates produce and store energy, so pairing them together is ideal for your body?s fat fighting and fitness performance.

Before I knew this pairing, I would eat an apple for a snack (and still be hungry), but now I?ll add string cheese or spreadable cheese to it.

Along with eating the right types of food together comes eating the right calories. I used to be a loyal Dannon Light n? Fit yogurt fan. One a day, everyday for breakfast. Dannon?s vanilla yogurts have 80 calories per 6-oz cup, which was what I thought was most important. But it also has only 5 grams of protein. By comparison,  Stonyfield?s Oikos Vanilla Greek yogurt has 110 calories and 15 g protein per 5 oz cup.

Aha: Strength training

Another thing I realized is that strength training really works. I used to think the same myths that many women do?I?d rather spend my time on cardio burning calories than on weight machines where I may not be doing it correctly, or sometimes not even break a sweat. When I wanted to increase my running mileage, I realized that I need strong legs, and I need to supplement cardio with something to build them.

I also learned that you do not need machines to get a great workout. I started CrossFit classes two times per week, and there is not one machine in the gym. All exercises are done with body weight, free weights, or bar bells. Not only do I feel stronger every time, I increase what I can lift periodically which tells me that I really am getting stronger.

Aha: The comparison trap

I also had a fitness epiphany about the comparison trap. When I stopped comparing my workouts or fitness abilities to others and focused on me, the outside didn?t bother me as much because it was just about what I can do. Use others to help set a goal or look to them for correct form. But statements like ?I?ll never be able to run as fast as her? or ?I am just not that flexible? aren?t helping you make progress.

Questions:

What moments made you say “oh now I get it!”? Definitely a few months ago when I was in kickboxing class and realized how much fun I was having, it no longer was a workout but something I looked forward to!

What would be your one piece of advice for someone who wants to get healthy? Do what works for you, its a lifestyle and if you’re going to stick with it you have to love it. Also think of concrete reasons why you want to be healthy such as “I want to set an example for others” or “do it because I deserve to be happy” not just “I want to lose weight” you’ll never stick with it!

Alright gotta run I am heading to the airport, but  ill try to post some pictures from Mexico later tonight Have a wonderful day!

-xo-

Kate