Looking forward to some R&R...

Hey guys,

I have had a pretty stressful week. Work has been crazy and I have been sleep deprived which has not helped matters. Anyone who knows me well that stress management is, ahem, not my forte but I am really trying to work on it. Getting on a regular schedule of sleep and exercise helps tremendously and to that end I have been doing a lot better in the stress management arena -- most of the time...

I have a day off tomorrow which will be great and then I have a long break starting on Wednesday. I am so looking forward to some much needed and well deserved time off... For those of you who don't know, Wednesday is my birthday (I'm getting a little old to call it my twenti-thirteenth, huh) and also the day of my next fitness assessment. I'm not worried though... I had a sneak preview of the scale today (the 12th day of the Lean in 13 -- which I plan on following for 16 days)... On this program alone I have lost 10 lbs so far!!! Needless to say, I am super excited and highly recommend the program to anyone needing a boost... (email me if you want more info). But that's not the only reason I'm looking forward to Wednesday...

... I'm hitting the road!!! I'm going to see a bunch of friends from high school. We are having a girl's weekend and it is going to be tremendous fun! Lots of time for relaxing and catching up and there may be the occasional drink or two. But I've been so good that I can let myself have a cheat day (which let's be honest may actually be days)... I know I'll be back on track come Tuesday when I'm back in town. (I can always start the Lean in 13 process over again if need be!)

Have a lovely weekend, everyone!
LP

Lean in 13 -- halfway there!

So, I mentioned in an earlier post that I was doing Advocare's Lean in 13 program to push through a plateau. So far, it's going great! I have had a lot more energy and have really felt good. My nutrition has been on point (except one little slip-up with some late night snacking at work one night). I decided to take the weekend off from exercise (there is a suggested plan for daily exercise, but it does say optional) given that I hurt my leg again Friday at the gym, but I'm ready to get back on track (cautiously) tomorrow...

As for my leg, it feels okay most of the time. I feel it most on the stairs or if I try to run-walk somewhere in a hurry. Last time I was okay on the elliptical, so that's what I'm planning to do...
If not, I guess I'll have to brave a swimsuit and hit the pool.

Have a great week!

Lean In 13 -- getting started...

Hi again…

Last month I went on a fantastic trip to LA for a friend’s wedding. And when I got back, I was so pleased to learn that I didn’t gain a pound. Well, I guess I must have been complacent with that good news, because I kind of slacked off a little bit. Which is probably why I haven’t lost a pound since that trip.

So, it’s time to get serious again. And to spark my progress, I have decided to do Advocare’s Lean in 13 program. It’s basically nutrition and fitness “boot camp” if you will, designed to jump-start a fitness program or push through a plateau. It’s a combination of Advocare supplements (protein shakes, metabolic nutrition system, and thermoplus) as well as an exercise and healthy food plan with “burn” and “refuel” days (for more information about the program, email Sean at spmfitness@hotmail.com). And then there is the water… they recommend a gallon a day, which is a challenge but not impossible.

I initially had concerns about 2 aspects of the program. First, Sean allows me to have a “cheat day” once a week so that I don’t have to deprive myself of things I really want but shouldn’t have (like my fave – eggplant parmesean) and there would be no cheat days on the program. And second, the program restricts all dairy and only allows fruit on “refuel” days and so I would have to give up my evening glass of skim milk and my banana that I blend in my morning meal replacement shake. But, it’s only 13 days so I figured, what the heck, I’ll give it a shot.

I just finished day 2…. So far, so good! I really feel great. My energy is way up – today I worked out with Sean, then did 30 minutes on the elliptical, and then went for a 90-minute walk around University of Richmond with my friend, Sarah. Even after all of that I was ready to keep going!!! I’ve been okay without my milk and fruit, and the eggplant will just have to be my birthday dinner (which conveniently falls at the end of the program)!

So my motto for the end of my 33rd year: Go hard or GO HOME!!!

LP