Video Blog Link: Setting Up a Workout Split

If you have ever wondered up how to divide your body parts up in to different days of the week to work in a split, click HERE!

Hard Choices

There came a point about 3 years ago in my weight loss and fitness journey that I knew if I was going to progress any farther I would have to spend more time in the gym and cooking healthy foods.  And in order to do that, I was going to have to give something up.  After conducting a rather painful lifestyle self-examination, I realized what needed to go: Sewing.

I am a very good seamstress, if I do say so myself.  I have been sewing for about 30 years now.  Since I am a perfectionist, I wasn't happy turning out anything that didn't look positively beautiful.  And perfection takes time.  A LOT of time!  I figured as long as I was putting the effort in, it might as well be right.  And it was.  Here are photos of just a few of my beloved projects:

 

But I had to get honest with myself and reevaluate my priorities.  After some internal examination I decided the proper place to focus my energies and time was now on getting healthier for not only myself, but for my family.  Additionally, I wasn't able to spend the time helping others like I wanted because my  butt was stuck in a chair in front of a sewing machine manipulating fabric.  So I finished up the last of my important projects and put sewing on the back burner.  That was a couple of years ago, and I haven't regretted the decision since, although sometimes I do get a little melancholy about it.

This doesn't mean I don't ever sew, because in a pinch I do.  And I am grateful for my sewing skills.  For instance, I made a lovely fully lined wool trench coat for my daughter this winter- She is tall and willowy, and at almost 6 feet tall and 125 lbs nothing was fitting her. (This is not an exaggeration- literally NOTHING fit her even close to properly with those very long limbs.)  Marching practices for the high school band would have been miserable without a warm and properly-fitting winter coat.  I literally don't know what she'd of done if I couldn't sew. Here are a few of pictures of the project: 

But other than the rare project, my sewing maching sits neglected in it's cabinet.

Another thing I have just recently given up is baking.  This was an even harder one to abandon than sewing.  Baking gives instant gratification and makes my family very happy!  This in turn makes me happy!  But I eat what I bake, and the stuff sitting around, even if I do avoid it, gets me thinking in a direction that is not good for my health.  (I'm sorry, but my experience has been that even with healthier ingredients, it's very difficult to make baked goods that are truly good for you and taste good, too.)  So, like sewing, unless it's for a rare occasion, baking is pretty much out of my life.

When people say that living healthy is a lifestyle, they aren't kidding!  I'm not saying you have to abandon ALL of your time-consuming or bad-for-you habits right now.  I see skinny people who sew and healthy people who bake.  I just can't be one of them.  At least not for the time being.

Habits are formed gradually and new practices towards healthier living are best added little by little, as you feel ready for the the changes.  The truth is that if 5 years ago you'd of told me I'd of all but stopped both sewing AND (bigger shock!) baking, I'd of told you that you were talking to the wrong woman.  If you knew me back then, you are nodding your head in agreement. :-)

The moral of my story?  Don't be afraid to reevaluate and be honest with yourself about what needs to exit  your life.  I can pretty much guarantee that over time, as you progress into becoming fitter and healthier, your life will look a lot different than it does today.  And that's Ok.  Giving up things that slow your progress is not giving in- It's being mature and honest enough with yourself to say "This isn't in my best interest anymore".  Your family may balk a bit (my 15-year old is still asking for brownies), but eventually they'll come to accept and appreciate that you made the hard choices in not only your best interest, but theirs as well.

Video Blog: Organizational Tools I Have Used in my Quest for Fitness

Here is a link to my very first video blog.  It's pretty self-explanatory! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKSEWgllqDs

Best time of day to exercise.

Here's a question a lot of people wonder about: What is the best time of day to exercise?

There is some scientific evidence that an early AM workout is the most beneficial. So if you are a person who has the option to work out first thing in the morning and it's compatible with your personality, I say go for it! Why not?

I like to work out ASAP in the morning. I'm more energetic in the morning and it's out of the way. For me, it's worth it to wake up super-early to get my workout in, if necessary. That way, any excuse I can find for not doing it later on in the day is not given a chance to take hold. It's already done.

However, if your schedule won't allow you to work out in the early AM or you are one of these people who just simply can't put out your best effort right out of bed, you need to find a time that works better for you. I stated in one of my very first blog posts, any exercise is better than no exercise.

If you can't give 100% to your workout in the morning but you can at 6PM, you will gain more benefit from working out at 6PM.

If you simply can't find time to work out until 6PM, you will gain more benefit from working out at 6PM than you will from not working out at all.

One precaution about working out late in the day: Most people will have a hard time getting a good nights sleep due to increased heart rate if they exercise within 2 hours of bedtime. And sleep is vital in the fitness battle, so don't sacrifice your sleep for your workout.

Whenever you decide is the best time for you to exercise, schedule it into your calendar and treat it like a non-negotiable appointment. This is your health we are talking about. It is that important.