Fitness NOW

I always have a hard time with my goals this time of year. I always find myself with conflicting goals. One day I'll think "I'll do a powerlifting competition this year" then the next I'll want to do a half marathon(which I am half-heartedly training for now). conceivably I could do it all!! And why not! It just takes a commitment... Maybe that's the problem. Here's how I overcome this little internal battle... Weekly goals, and I don't allow myself to worry about next week or next month when my diet and exercises regimen will be sabotaged... I tuck my chin and start walking. So here is the goal for the week. Baby steps! We all know that the HEALTHY sustainable weightless is no more than 2lbs a week.(no matter what your trainer says) The next thing that you must know is that you won't continue to do something that you absolutely hate! Step away from the green grass tasting shake that swears to take 20 lbs off by Christmas. Start with ONE activity goal and ONE nutrition goal for a week or 2 weeks. Here's an example. Nutrition goal: swap the chips for a fruit or veggie. Activity goal 30 min of planned movement a day. That can be popping in a home exercise video, using the gym membership you bought last year, or playing with your kids (or in my case dogs!) at the park! Make some goals and work through then today. Don't wait until the new year, don't wait until Monday... Just do it. Don't give yourself the opportunity to talk yourself out of what you want to do! Next week or two, make some more baby steps!

Part Two

The second thing is not so easy for me to fix, but it's a necessity. It’s called my wardrobe. My daily clothing is comprised of whatever dry-fit pants and top I can throw together, followed by a mess of hair that is oftentimes hidden under a hat, and normally black (ninja style). Grad school is partially to blame for my dress code apathy, I dress up when I lecture, but when I’m hidden in an office all day like a typing-trollKendi's daily fashon blog, I can’t seem to find the motivation to put on a pair of jeans, much less put effort into a whole outfit!

This dehelimma was brought to my attention by my loving best friend as she said “when are you going to stop dressing like a boy!” followed by a suggestion to look at some fashon bloggers sites. She’s right. I’m 27, I remember my first year out of undergrad…(ah so long ago) I had the clothes, and loved getting up and getting dressed in the morning. Now… not my favorite thing. Maybe it’s due to lack of exciting closet stimulus. Once again, planning, effort, and a ninja KICK out of my comfort zone. It's important to me to look like me, but maybe a put together me will go a little further than a sloppy, just rolled out of bed/workout me.

Special thanks to my office-mate, for the excellent photography, and to kendieveryday.blogspot.com(here it is) for some help in transforming this "boy dresser" into a big girl, and to my BFF, speakin the truth(don't we all need that)... now for ACTION!

That's the daily look, notice the model pose. mmhmmmm.

plan FOR action part one;

“There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long range risks of comfortable inaction.” -JFK

 

Was JFK an Exercise Physiologist too? I found this quote today, and it reminded me of so many things that are comfortable to me right now. 2 in particular that have GOT to change. I'm a creature of habit. Part one, the “diet”

I'm in an eating schedule at the moment, and a very regimented one in fact. I eat juuuust about the same thing every day. (Ok, that's not a terrible thing.) The problem is that I'm NOT following my own advice. I'm eating things out of packages during the day and polishing off my nights with a quick fix, whatever-I-can-throw-together-dinner. (here comes the revelation)

I'm COMPLACENT! I've fallen into a habit of eating the same thing, and getting the same results, even though my dinners aren't McDonalds and my lunches aren't from the vending machine, they sure aren't fresh and fueling my body with nutrients. My remedy. Plan. Plan. Plan! First I have to get myself up and off to the farmers market on Saturdays and find the colors! The more colors that are in your diet, the more nutrients you'll have more on this color phenom in part 2) Then to some recipes; here is one quick fix!

Spaghetti Squash

1 medium spaghetti squash

1-2 tsp EVOO

1-2 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp chili flakes

2 Tbs thinly sliced mint

1 Tbs basil

1 Tbs shaved or grated parmesan Reggiano Chesse

First, cut squash into quarters and scoop out seeds. Bring 2 inches of water to a boil in a large, shallow pan. Add squash cut-side down and cook over medium heat for 20 min or until it's fork-tender. Next, scrape out the flesh so it resembles spagetti and drizzle with olive oil. Combine salt, pepper, chili flakes, mint, basil and cheese, and sprinkle over squash. SERVE AND ENJOY!

Nutrition facts: 50 calories, 3g protein, 6g carbs, 4g sugar, 2.5g fiber, 121 mg sodium. (Compliments of Muscle & Fitness Hers july/august 2009)

·         A little added info for ya, squash is contains vitamain A, C and a little kick of fiber, and is a great alternative to it’s pasta comparison (play away)

This is my first endeavor in purposefully turning my world upside down within the next couple of weeks is completely attainable. Nutrition is what I love… and I tend to think I’m good at it. The second however… not so easy

the joUrney

Here we go... a journey of sorts. Aren't most things in life just that though? This is somethign I've always wanted to do.
This is intended to be an expression of two sides of me. Two conflicting and distinctive parts of my personality that play out on a day to day basis. It's in the name Iron-Lily. I believe that being a woman is complex. It's necessary to have the perfect balance of femininity and strength. However achieving both of those things is a little daunting, too strong, and you come across as overpowering, or controlling. Too little and you are a meek-and-mild doormat to the world. When I think of femininity, I think of two things. A bombshell Victoria's secret model, and pink dresses, flowers and butterflies. I'm neither of those things, so the feminine mystique is somewhat perplexing to me as well! I like to think of the balance of these things from the 1940's picture of "Rosie the Riveter" rolling up that sleeve to get the job done! Just look at the photo! How could you NOT want to be her! She's beautiful, she's strong, she's feminine, and I kinda get the hint that she could mess you up! So that's me, that's what this blog is all about; get fit, be strong, and be... well a GIRL!


You'll find some nutrition, training, and a whole lot of encouragement here, I WANT you to pick up the iron, (the kind at the gym) get strong, and still be beautiful and delicate when you need to be. Let's do this.