About a month ago I started going to a personal trainer once a week. I know what you’re thinking… “Dang big money!” But, seriously it is expensive. I have approached these last four weeks as a crash course in fitness and overall health, because let’s just say this band nerd who ate/drank Dr. Pepper and hot Cheetos all through high school does not know the first thing about proper nutrition nor about lifting anything except a pair of cymbals (yes, you can laugh now).
My trainer Joe has been amazing. Alex and I have been doing combined sessions and Joe has been teaching us about eating healthy and targeting specific muscles including our hearts, glutes, abs, legs, and arms (which is pretty much your entire body, right?). Joe’s goal for us both has been:
Don’t weigh yourself. This isn’t about weigh loss. If you eat healthy, and work out a minimum of 20 mins a day, the results will come. Slowly, but surely, they will come. This is not a crash diet… it’s a lifestyle change.
Further, as some of you may know, but both Alex and I have lower back issues (his is sciatica and mine is scoliosis) and Joe has given us some great modifications for typical work out moves to aid in building back muscle, while taking the pressure off our lower backs during other work outs. It has been inspiring and so extremely helpful. I have hurt in places I didn’t even know muscles existed and it is fantastic. Honestly, if you’ve never had any personal attention in the fitness/health area I recommend getting a trainer or taking a course at your local community college.
Finally, I told Joe that Alex and I would like to start planning for a family this year, but that I wanted to be healthy and maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout my pregnancy. He was honest and encouraged me to lower my body fat index through a workout/food regimen and he has me keep a food journal. He’s been extremely encouraging and told me that I’m honestly not eating that bad, but that I should eat more often (to keep my metabolism working — never get too hungry) and consume more water (to aid my body is flushing out toxins).
So, I’ve been trying to adopt a healthy lifestyle through what I believe to be a few simple steps:
1) Work out at least 20 mins a day
2) Alternate cardio and weight lifting every other day
3) Consume a minimum of 8 glasses of water daily
4) Eat more frequently (5xs a day)
5) Eat more veggies instead of more carbs
6) Eat fruit in the mornings
I’m not entirely sure how this is working for me weight loss wise, but I sure feel healthier. And if Joe is right, the weight loss will come. But hey… it’s not about being skinny right. It’s about being healthy. Healthy is the new skinny, dontcha know?
Suzi and I started a similar thing about a year ago, and it’s definitely one of the best things that’s ever happened to us. Once you get used to living healthy and eating healthy, you start to wonder how you ever did anything else.
Once piece of advice I picked up along the way that has been incredibly useful is, “if you don’t know what’s in it, don’t eat it”
Anyway, keep it up!
Tru dat!! Awesome. Since being able to cook and eat at home three meals a day, it has made a HUGE difference. I know most people don’t have the luxury, so I’m taking advantage of it as much as possible.
We just got a gym membership and thats been my goal too. Be healthy over being skinning. I have been going pretty regularly, mixing cardio, and weights, with a spin class every time. I have not seem any difference in the scale, but my body has totally changed. Good for you guys!!
I love “healthy is the new skinny”! I can tell the healthy effect on you – your eyes are brighter and your skin has a nice glow about it – wait, it is due to your new healthy lifestyle right? Nothing else, like….just kidding, sweetie:) I continue to be very proud of you!!
This sounds great. We rarely eat out now that I am home now with our nugget. And Im starting to enjoy trying new recipes. I cant say its always the healthiest stuff, 24/7, but its better than processed food or like Rob said not knowing what’s going into your food. I would like to exercise more but having the free time is hard so it mostly consists of walking or bouncing the nugget and man am I building some biceps. And yeah when you get prego you will want to eat as often as you can because its when you let the stomach get empty that you feel the sickest for most. Your munching on cheerios and shredded wheat in the middle of the night just to keep something on your tummy. Heh.