Tag: Mindset

Humor, Instant Pot, Uncategorized, Weight Loss

Leg Day

Cruz2Lose

I got up this morning and after I tossed down a few cups of coffee, I headed out to the gym. I was actually surprised that I had more energy than usual since I didn’t sleep well last night.  When I arrived at the gym, I thought that I should give the elliptical a try just to mix things up a bit.  Climbing up on this thing was the moment that I was going to find out whether or not Planet Fitness was truly a “Judgement Free Zone” as they promote in their advertizing. I got up on that thing but I can’t say that I did so with grace. I imagine
that I looked more like a newborn giraffe trying to steady itself shortly after birth. A few minutes into my workout I was wondering what in the world I had been thinking. I lasted 12 minutes before throwing in the towel.

Since my thighs were already feeling pain from the elliptical, I decided that today wouldtraining-828760_1280 be “leg day”.   If you aren’t familiar with the term “leg day”, it is the day at the gym you spend your time working on your legs.  This may also be known as purgatory. By the time I walked out of the gym I had found Jesus and was praying for healing.

I may need a day of rest tomorrow.

When I began working out 6 days ago, I got on the scale for a base weight. I checked my weight today and I have lost about 3 lbs. I consider that to be a pretty good start. With that being said, I do not want to get tangled up in the numbers. I am not “dieting”, I am changing my lifestyle.  I would say my eating is more paleo if you break it down, however, I am not counting calories.  My journey is about making healthier choices and finding the humor along the path. There is ALWAYS humor. 😉

No Instant Pot cooking tonight but more healthy recipes to come.

*Disclaimer:  That is not me in the photo. Not at all.

Humor, Instant Pot, Uncategorized, Weight Loss

Playlists and IP Cooking

Cruz2Lose

Today at Planet Fitness, I decided to do something a little different while on the treadmill, I decided to listen to music instead of reading. I jumped on the treadmill, turned on my playlist and started my workout. My playlist began with Justin Timberlake’s Can’t Stop the Feeling which is a high energy, feel good song. I was pumped and walking on that thing like I was being featured in one of his music videos. Moments later my music choices went quite a bit darker and there I am on the treadmill, after several tracks of Kelly Clarkson, angry AF over I don’t even know what but I am pretty certain it had something to do with every man who had wronged me in my life.  After Maroon 5’s Cold, I was beginning to recognize there was a pattern to my music. By the time I finished my workout I felt like I needed to lay on a therapist’s couch or at the very least the hydrotherapy lounge chair – I chose the lounge chair, much cheaper than therapy.

*Note to self:  Create an actual workout playlist.

After trolling the internet to gather a few healthy Instant Pot recipes for my weight loss journey, fullsizeoutput_207blast night I cooked up a recipe that I had found on skinnytaste.com, Braised Cubed Steak. It was budget friendly, simple and had good flavor. Tonight I threw pork chops and rice into my Instant Pot, HOWEVER, I only ate about a 1/2 cup of rice.  I recently purchased cauliflower as a substitute for rice, I just have to look up some ways to dress it up and give it shot. On a side note, tonight I turned down a glass of wine. It really is all about balance, I ate the rice, I passed on the wine. Next time I could be passed out on wine eating rice.

Baby steps.

 

Humor, Uncategorized, Weight Loss

My Confession – Part II

Cruz2Lose

This is not my first rodeo.  I have been losing weight, gaining and losing again for almost 30 years, kind of like a career poker player minus the smell of bourbon and cigarettes. The only difference is that if I gamble with my health,  it won’t be Guido coming to break my legs, instead, I may be at the mercy of a cardiologist. I simply refuse to give up because at some point I know I am going to have an ace in the hole and win this game.

During my times of weight loss success, there was one thing in particular that was always the constant no matter the variable:

MINDSET

This is truly where it all begins.  Not only do you need to want to be successful, you have to believe that you WILL BE successful. Whether you only have a few pounds to lose or several pounds to lose, it really is about having the mindset to achieve those goals.

I looked out the window today and it was gently snowing.  It really wasn’t sticking at this point but I almost used it as an excuse not to head to Planet Fitness for my workout.  I sat at my computer for a moment and ran through a few more reasons why perhaps I shouldn’t go. What if the road conditions deteriorated?  Hmmm…I grew up driving in Michigan, I can pretty much drive in any road condition; I even specialize in maneuvering my way around plowed snow, potholes and tractors. At that moment I felt the need to explain to my dog that there was really not a legitimate excuse for me not to go to the gym and that she would have to hold the fort down while I was gone. Not certain I am playing with a full deck of cards…

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