Thursday, July 30, 2009

Great new workout to try...

I subscribe to Self Magazine and have been looking for an easy workout that involves lifting and cardio. I absolutely hate to lift weights and would much rather run 6 miles, but I know that it is important in order to get toned.

Check it out here: http://www.self.com/fitness/workouts/2009/08/antiaging-exercises-video

The first day I did this I couldn't walk for two days.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Detox - Day 2

8:30 a.m. - Walked into work and saw someone eating a McDonald's breakfast sandwich in the lobby. When does the I am so healthy, I wouldn't think about wanting something like that kick in?

9:00 a.m. - For breakfast I had blueberries and a bottle of water. I decided that as long as I manage to be gluten/sugar/dairy/meat-free, somewhat organic, and stay away from processed foods that this is still following the idea of Detox.

9:50 a.m. - I need caffeine!

12:30 a.m. - Instead of the detox chicken, I opted for a piece of Salmon and lettuce with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

3:00 p.m. - It's official, I now know why people drink caffeine. It is supposed to help you work. Broke down and ate a small gluten-free snack.

Okay, surprisingly I am not as hungry as I thought I would be. I happen to be longing for food that other people are consuming, but I was able to resist when I ordered lunch today. The gluten-free snack though was too hard to pass up though.

6:00 p.m. - I went to get a haircut and then headed to the gym. I always hate having to ruin a good hair day and not taking advantage of a blow out by going out. However, since I can't drink or really eat too much, what's the point? I don't have that type of self-control.

8:30 p.m. - I was again surprised by the fact that I was not starving. I don't have much energy and my workout was pretty lame, but I still made it to the gym. It's really important to sweat when you are detoxing to rid yourself of toxins.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Day 1 : Feeling the Diet

7 a.m. - Woke up and drank a glass of water

9:30 a.m. - I started to get a little hungry for breakfast and decided that I should maybe figure out a way to get my smoothie. I called Jamba Juice and they do not have almond milk, coconut milk, or rice milk and therefore, I couldn't go there. I then went to a smoothie bar in the gym right across from my office and they were closed. Finally, I stopped at a Juice and Smoothie Bar in the AON center and managed to get fresh blueberries, whey protein, ice and a splash of OJ. It was pretty good and managed to fill me up.

11:30 a.m. - Lunch time! I ate some avocado, lettuce, carrots and oil and vinegar. I am having to adjust some of the meals because I couldn't find everything I needed last night. I am feeling pretty full after my avocado/lettuce meal, but I am kind of sleepy and missing my usually carb load at lunch. Plus, where is my diet coke!!

1:00 p.m. - In a meeting and drinking coconut water. Not liking it too much, it sort of tastes like splenda in water.

3:00 p.m. - Working + Detox do not work so well together and I am ready for a nap. Still trying to get through this coconut water.

4:00 p.m. - Sunflower seeds and almond snack.

6:00 p.m. - Got in a quick workout at the gym before I headed off to visit Hilary's little one.

9:30 p.m. - Broke down and had a peach and a piece of corn for dinner. Also, enjoyed some pumpkin seeds.

Detox Day 1

I spent a few hours last night at Whole Foods trying to purchase all the ingredients that are needed for this detox. Unfortunately, I don't even know what 1/2 the stuff even is or what to do with it. Ex: sweet miso, grapeseed oil, coconut water and fresh ginger root! But, I managed to buy what I could and spent the evening watching The Bachelorette and eating pumpkin seeds/drinking wine. But, after a few glasses of wine and some carbs last night, I woke up ready to embark on this detox adventure.

Day 1:

DAY ONE
7am (or upon rising): Glass of room temperature lemon water
8am: Herbal tea
10am (breakfast): Blueberry and Almond Smoothie
11:30am: Coconut water*
1:30pm (lunch): Salad with Carrot and Ginger Dressing
4pm (snack): A handful of mixed pumpkin and sunflower seeds
6pm (dinner): Broccoli and Arugula Soup
*Make sure that the coconut water has no added sugar. Fresh is ideal but the brands Zico or Vita Coco are readily available.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Detox My Life

Okay, so I haven't been very diligent on my blogging or my attempts to get healthier. However, after months of eating semi-unhealthy (I have a serious weakness for ice cream) and making a semi-constructive attempt at working out, I am going to kick start my workout/life plan into full gear with a 7-day detox plan that I pulled from Gwyneth Paltrow's website GOOP.

You can find it here: http://goop.com/newsletter/15/

Check in tomorrow and I will let you know how I am doing. I figured that I might as just jump in and see how it goes. A little concerned about the fact that I am not going to be drinking any wine...

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

My Journey to Health

I am going to start this blog and document my experience as I navigate through understanding my personal health and well-being. This is meant to serve as a guide to share with you the path that I am taking to achieve my optimum health. However, I can't possibly start this without describing to you a little bit about myself:

1) I am constantly multi-tasking and always have a problem staying on task for more than an hour and 20 minutes( I actually timed it in class last night and in a meeting today; exactly the same time).

2) I am in my first-year of graduate school at DePaul University in the Masters of Public Health Program.

3) I have been in school non-stop since I was 4 years-old and have always had a hard time deciding what I want to do when I "grow-up." Education is the one thing that I have always known that would never be a waste of time. Therefore, I have degrees in the following: BA from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Speech Communication; BA from Illinois State University in English and Speech Education; and I am now working on my graduate degree at DePaul University.

4) I go through phases of enjoyment and outright pure hatred of working out. I have completed two Chicago Marathons (2007 and 2008), 2 half-marathons (2007 and 2009), and trained the race was cancelled)for a 1/2 ironman(2008).

5) I didn't even start running or working out (more than the elliptical) until December 2006.

6) I have a large family (and it keeps growing) that I absolutely love and adore.

7) I have two passions (or vices depending on the day) : shopping and wellness. I chose to make one into a career and the other one a hobby.

8) I love travelling and experiencing a culture other than my own.

9) Throughout my life, I have always pushed myself outside my comfort zone.

10) My biggest fear (and one that effects my everyday life) is that I will make the wrong decision today that will eventually negatively effect me in the future.