Day 2 of LLE

Things have gone very well today! I got in a good run this morning - interval training. I really feel like my running has been getting stronger. My trail run yesterday felt great and everyone else kept saying how it was such a quick pace - didn't feel that fast to me. Then today, I felt really strong while running the intervals. The woman I run them with was really struggling - she may have been having a bad day but that doesn't negate the fact that I felt strong.

I've also been able to drop my weight to 149.5. That means I'm 1 pound away from hitting my $60 leverage!

As for my assignments for LLE: I'm rereading the nutrient chapter in The Leanness Lifestyle. It is interesting to read again. Not because it is new information - I know the info - I'm just now seeing the info differently. It was a number of years ago that I read it the first time and a lot has happened since then. Last year during one of my adult Sunday school classes, we talked about how things can appear differently because of the "lenses" that we view the world through. Everyone has been through different experiences which color how you view the world. That is what I feel like right now. I'm seeing the information in the book and on the site differently because of where I'm at now in my life. It's a really cool feeling - everything is feeling new again!

That's all for tonight - tomorrow is a lifting day. Oh, and I'm going out with some out-of-state friends tomorrow for dinner. I will be having salmon and steamed veggies. No other eating allowed!

The Day Is Here!

Today was my first day in LLE. Not much new and exciting happened. The first couple of weeks deals mostly with getting better acquainted with the Club. I feel pretty confident there so I'm just going to continue to clear my To Do List and trying to better myself.

I've had a huge calorie expenditure day and must admit that I gave in to some poor thinking and some poor eating. The food itself wasn't "bad" but my meals weren't according to my plan. It was more carbs than I should have consumed. I made some good choices though. My lunch was eaten in a restaurant but was very healthy and when we went out tonight, the family had some ice cream but I stayed away. Overall, I'm OK with the day. I have a lot of room for improvement but that is ultimately what this is all about - improving each day in thoughts and deeds.

Tomorrow is the Big Day!

Tomorrow I start my LLE 1.0 program! I have been chomping at the bit for the past week. I'm really excited to start this journey. I don't really know what to expect but I'm really looking forward to jumping in with both feet.

I've also started reading a very good book. It is called What To Say When You Talk to Your Self by Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D. It deals with using positive selt-talk. It is a step beyond positive thinking. The basic idea is that not only do you need to eliminate the negative behaviors and attitudes but because that then leaves a void you need to make sure you fill it with positive self-talk, behavior and attitudes. That is very simplified so I would highly recommend the book to all. It has already made me aware of many things that I was doing that I now know need to stop.

Things have been going really well the past week. My exercise has stayed steady and my whole mindset about my nutrition is different. There have been time, during the past week, where I've heard myself saying: "You have a few days before LLE starts, go ahead and have some junk!" That, my friends, is the feast beast talking!! Normally, I would have given in to that voice but not this week - I've actually kept that beast under wraps and have reduced my weight to 150 (started at 154).

I will update what my first day is like tomorrow.

I'm Taking a VERY Important Step!

I've been a part of Club Lifestyle for a number of years now and I truly believe it is the best and most comprehensive program out there, for the transformationist - hands down! Within the Club, Coach has some pretty intense programs that you can participate in and get extra, specialized attention. You can participate in a Bootcamp or become an Elite member. These 2 programs have been a dream of mine but to be completely honest, I couldn't afford them. I know that they are worth every penny that Coach charges and that if you compared the services and expertise that you got it is actually a "steal". However, the costs were simply outside of our family budget.

Now for the AWESOME news. Coach has created a program called Leanness Lifestyle Evolution (LLE 1.0) and I have officially signed up. I'm not going to be working with Coach Dave but we have a number of other absolutely wonderful coaches in the Club. I am so excited to be getting the chance to learn about all the missing pieces and to be pushed to my absolute best. I've had some interesting conversations with Coach Dave over the past couple of days. It can be a touch grating at times but I really do love the way he just lays it out there and doesn't worry about "hurting your feelings" - don't get me wrong, he isn't hurtful, he just puts out an objective opinion. That can be really hard to hear but so very important.

I've actually been doing pretty well this week. I believe I started at 155# on Sunday and I'm now down to 151.5#. Must of this early weight loss is fluid and I know that but I was struggling so much for so long that it's just nice to see the numbers moving in the right direction. I think the better eating and the resistance training is paying off. Today's trail run (very hilly) felt really pretty easy. I led the group most of the 7 miles but did slow down a bit to back track to some of the other runners that were struggling on a particularly tough hill. I even had a couple of runners today mention how great I did. I don't need the praise but it is nice to hear.

Tomorrow's workout will be interval training. I'm very interested to see how that goes. I'm really looking forward to fast times and strong running as my nutrition improves and my training progresses. I honestly feel that with everything I'm going to learn in my class, the weight I'm going to lose and the training (and better nutrition) I'm going to put in - I WILL qualify for Boston on October 12th at the Steamtown Marathon!

I Have Taken Action!

It is time to get this extra weight off! My first step was to come up with a leverage - something that I give to someone else to "hold". If I make my goal then I get it back and if I don't make my goal then I lose it. I'm not usually very good at coming up with effective leverages but I've chosen cash. I have given my husband $60 to hold as my leverage. That amount my not seem like a lot but it is 30% of my monthly spending money so it will be a substantial hit to me if I lose it. My goal is to lose 6 pounds by July 31st.

When I reach this goal I will then set a weight lose goal for August and add another $60 to the pot. Yes, that's right! In August, if I do not make my goal I will lose $120! I am determined to get my weight down for Steamtown and for my health!

I've also come up with a mantra for myself: Better lifestyle; Better life! I know that it is time to view this whole process differently. I feel like I'm still working on this like it is a "diet" - something I'm going to do for a set period of time and then stop. I need to change that point of view and consider this a lifestyle!

Today I ran 5 miles, at a nice quick pace (8:24 m/m) and then started the Afterburn lifting program. The Afterburn program is very challenging and I think it will really help my running as well! I started with 2 sets of the exercises and my whole body was pretty shaky when I was finished. In addition, I can already feel that I'm going to be a touch sore tomorrow - I Love That Feeling after a good lifting session!

I'm very pleased with the way today has gone. My husband and I went to some outlets today (actually got some Christmas presents bought) which meant that lunch was eaten out. I had a nice salad with some chicken and some Asian-sesame dressing. Dinner was here at home and I did well with controlling any "trolling". I am excited to see if I have a weight drop in the morning. I also took the step today of taking some body measurements. Both circumferences and a 1 site skinfold. I will take these measurements on a regular basis to make sure my efforts are progressing me forward.

Day 1 is over and it has been very successful!

Commitment and other ramblings

Let me start by saying that some of this may ramble and go off in who-knows-what direction so please bear with me.

What is Commitment?

1. To be responsible for.
2. To entrust; consign.
3. To place officially in custody, a confinement.
4. To pledge or obligate (oneself). This is the definition I am concerned with!

I have come to realize that commitment is something I have trouble with. That is......commitment to myself!

I recently listened to an interview with Curt King on the LL Blog Site. It really seemed to describe what I've been going through and I highly recommend you listen to it. He has made an amazing transformation and is reaping the benefits of all his hard work. It is where I want to be!

My goals are to run a 3:50 marathon at Steamtown (this would qualify me for Boston) and to weigh 135# while doing it. I am currently 155# and I honestly don't feel like I will be able to accomplish my race goal at my current weight. Yet, I can't seem to avoid eating those crappy carbs.

I'm running 30-35 miles per week and trying to do resistance training 2-3 times per week. And yet my weight continues to rise. There is a saying at Club Lifestyle: "You can not out run what you can potentially eat." I am living proof of that statement!

I have gotten myself to a weight that is uncomfortable. I feel bloated and my clothes don't fit. You would think all these factors together would be enough to get me back in the groove. However, that hasn't happened yet. This led me to the conclusion that I just have trouble making and keeping a commitment to myself. Is that nuts or what?!

I'll be honest - I don't have a solution to my problem and I feel like I'm in a very dangerous place. I'm standing on the proverbial fence. One side has me back on track - exercising hard and eating correctly. The other side has me saying "Who gives a f#@* - this is too dang hard and it isn't worth it!"

The other thing I don't understand is the fact that I honestly feel that fitness is a passion for me. But, if it is such a passion, why do I have trouble putting all the different aspects together? I truly want to get to a point where I view food as a fuel, which would allow me to say no when food is offered and it's not the correct time or food.

I don't have a great end for this post. I would love to be able to say that writing this has made things crystal clear and I now know what road I will take and how I'm going to get there. Unfortunately, I can't. I know what side of the fence I want to be on - I just don't know how to get there. Or, maybe I'm afraid to go there. Not sure why I'd be afraid of being healthier and looking better but on some level I'm sure it's there.

I don't know how many people actually read this blog but I would love to hear your comments. I also sincerely hope that this post could, in some way, help at least 1 person out there. It is worth it to strive for your best. It is hard but I have to believe that I will come out a better person physically, mentally and spiritually if I honor myself by committing to not only myself but also to a proven program. Leanness Lifestyle is that program! It's not easy but if you commit to it 100% it will take you farther than you could ever dream.

I'm going to take that first step right now - anybody want to join me?