Got the Green Light: Eating Clean

A few weeks ago (been a bit busy lately) I got the green light to starting eating clean rather than the strict, strict diet. This was great news until my trainer also mentioned "no sugar, bread or pasta" which is a bit stricter than simply eating clean. So I ran to the store only to discover most things were still off limits. On the other hand, being able to add a variety of veggies, rather than just broccoli and green beans) and fruit, though this is limited to one per day, was a real boost.

I've found a few recipes that are tasty...here is my favorite for lunch. Sometimes I sneak a piece of Eziekel bread and though I normally don't eat egg salad or cottage cheese, I will admit this is pretty good: Eat Clean Egg Salad from Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Diet Cookbook.

The diet change was just what I needed to stay on track and keep my eye on the goal.

Stalemate: Boring, Boring, Boring...

Tired of the diet, bored with training. I've just had my fill of all of it. I'm thrilled to be in the smallest size since high school, love that my clothes are literally falling off, BUT getting up at 5:00 a.m. is beat...eating chicken, tuna and broccoli for every meal every day is endless...the elliptical...boring.

I'm just not in my mental *happy* place this week. Always hungry even though I should be grateful for weekend cheat meals which are really the only thing keeping me going at this point. I'm afraid if I get them taken away I may quit! (Though I know I won't; it makes me feel better to say it though.) Nearly every day someone says, "I don't know how you do it. How do you eat those same foods day after day?" The answer is I'm asking myself the very same question.

Help?

We Have a Show! INBF Northern States Here I Come!

So I have a goal date and am so excited! My 1st Figure competition will be in the INBF Northern States Super Natural in Buffalo, NY next March. Having a goal was what started me on this journey in the first place, so I am pumped about knowing when the suffering...I mean, training...will end. This is just the mental boost I needed after a long week filled with hunger and workout which seemed endless and quite boring.

It's been nearly 10 weeks since training began, and while I'm not hitting the heavy weight yet, I'm looking forward to a change. Elliptical, tuna, chicken and green beans since July 8th. Blah.

So this coming week I will try to mix it up. Adding back turkey burger for some variety in the diet, and maybe the treadmill a bit, though I'd much prefer to run outdoors than in, but 5:00 a.m. workouts and running outside don't mix. Any other tips on how to "shake it up"?

8 Week Progress: It's All Mental

It's officially 8 weeks today since I began this Figure quest. I'm down approximately 22 lbs. but more importantly have completely mentally switched from struggling with the diet to acceptance of the fact that this is what it takes. Same foods. Same diet. Same me. So what's the difference between mid-July and now? It's all mental. As always, a favorite quote comes to mind:

"Things do not change. We change."
- Henry David Thoreau

About the pics... I'd like to keep my outfit consistent but most of my clothes are now falling off, hence the roll. Runners' shorts just don't cut it so time to go shopping!

Launch Prize Pack Winner & How Survivor Helps

I feel fantastic! My trainer is actually letting me EAT this weekend...so exciting. This week I started work and classes online, so it's been a bit crazy to say the least. In order to schedule the workouts it's a 5 a.m. wake up call for me. I'm used to getting up early to blog on www.coolbabykid.com but 5 o'clock is earlier than I'm comfortable with. But after the first week, once I figured out where the light switches in our school gym were and how unlock the women's faculty shower room, I'm getting into a new routine. I actually like working out in the morning, even if a slightly later wake up time would be preferable. But, hey, when you have a goal there's no such thing as an obstacle. Besides, getting up early is not remotely as difficult as not eating *real* food. Sometimes I pretend I'm on Survivor, which I actually applied to twice, in which case chicken, tuna and green beans is a lot of food. But overall...life is good.

Congratulations to the blog launch *Fitness Prize Pack* winner (comment #47) whose information is listed below. Please contact me at coolbabykid {at} gmail {dot} com with your mailing address and tee shirt size to claim the prize.

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:47Powered by RANDOM.ORG

athompson said...

good for you for staritng this. im hoping for some motivation!!!!!!
thompson_tanda@yahoo.com

Staying Motivated: The Power of Inspirational Words

A few years ago I started my own cosmetics company. The premise was to put inspirational quotes on the packages to inspire and motivate every time you used them. I'm a huge believer in the power of inspirational words and have favorite quotes for every occasion. Quotes enable you to quickly learn and utilize from those whose life experiences are vast and different than our own, who have gained wisdom we haven't yet. I listed some of my favorite on the sidebar. But the one I love most is the same quote I wrote on my hand during the only full marathon I ran...the same one I had turned into a bracelet in July when I was ready to give up on the Figure training endeavor. It is attributed to Lance Armstrong, though I can't determine if he is the original author:

Pain is temporary. It may last a minute or an hour or a day or a year, but eventually it subsides and something else takes it's place. If I quite, however, it lasts forever.

I found a neat site, Wristband with a Message, which allows you to turn any phrase into a custom silicon wristband. Though I had to shorten the quote, I've been wearing the bracelet since July and will likely not take it off until the Spring competition if the number of weak moments, like going out to dinner with others, is any indication. I'm often asked lately about my diet, "How do you do that?" I usually respond with a simple "It's not easy for me," but the truth is that without motivation in many forms, including motivational quotes which are on my desk, in my closet and even on my wrist, I probably would have already given up. So when I tell students in my class on the first day of school tomorrow, "words have power," I truly mean it.

Launch Day: Welcome to the Site!

If you're coming from Cool Baby Kid, welcome. My favorite blog designer in the world, Gisele Jaquenod, finished the new design last week and From Potty Training to Weight Training is officially off and running. If you're new to blogging or just looking to spice up your site, Gisele offers free blog templates too. Having been to a Fitness competition years ago with my husband (boyfriend at the time), I thought it would be a neat challenge someday but was too young to realize I had actually had the potential to accomplish such as task. Fifteen years and two babies later, I decided it was time to get in the best shape of my life. I'd been running for a few years with some half-marathons and even one full marathon under my belt, but still couldn't shed those "last 15 pounds" from a baby that was now over a year old! Being goal-oriented, I knew just getting in shape wasn't enough...I needed a goal. Remembering the Fitness competition from years ago I wondered, "Could I do that?" I talked to friends and family, did a little research and knew it would be the challenge of a lifetime. Why?

Because I love to eat. I really, really love to eat.

I thought of a favorite quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, "You must do the thing you think you can not do" and knew for me it was giving up things like Edy's ice cream as a nightly snack. When I found a trainer who was willing to take me on (even after seeing some pretty scary "before" pics) we decided Figure was more appropriate since Fitness incorporates gymnastics, and gymnast I am not. Figure is basically a natural bodybuilding competition which emphasizes muscle tone over size...think Oxygen magazine.

I nearly quit the first weekend, then struggled through vacations and finally started to see results in that first month. I can't help complaining a lot about the lack of food since the diet (or lack of variety of any foods that actually taste good) is enemy #1 on this journey. But with a few inspirational quotes and the support of my family, friends, and the best trainer ever, I hope to make it to the Spring all in one piece. Thanks for joining me.

What blog launch would be complete without a giveaway? Enter to win a Fitness Prize Pack by leaving a comment on this post. Earn extra entries for tweeting the launch and include @coolbabykid. Expires 9/2/09.

The Fitness Prize Pack includes a Mom Works tee, one of my favorite companies that empowers women with cheeky sayings and pictures geared especially for moms (pictured). Also awarded to the winner will be a Victoria P. Zurcher Designs personalized aluminum water bottle, perfect for hitting the gym in style. They also carry neat gifts and other personalized products that we first fell in love with on Cool Baby Kid. Finally, to keep you motivated, Gisele is offering a "Hang in There" mug from her famous Birdie Says collection which also includes stationery, nursery and kids plus home decor and more...so cute!!