Retrained Disciplined Brain

One of my favorite retrained breakfast creations
Photo by Brit Martin

My girlfriend called me yesterday -- get this because she needs help getting back on track with her healthy diet and exercise regimen.  Calling, me? Seriously, I love it. Anyhow, she's been so busy with work, hasn't had time to take care of herself, and she feels miserable.

There's nothing better than eating healthy wholesome food combined with exercise. You just feel good. So if you fall off even a little you begin to feel icky. As an obese miserable woman I ate so much crappy food with no movement. I felt like I was drugged all the time. I remember at one point I use to fall to sleep at the wheel while driving. Yes, scary I know. Oops, I'm way off of the subject I was addressing -- kinda. My point, I know first hand the way eating real food and exercise can improve your mood and the way you feel.

My advice to her: Schedule the time to plan, shop, and prepare her meals. Don't budge. It's a commitment. That way she has good real food that she can zap anytime and ready made snacks. Of course, I gave her some recipe ideas. Mostly all the meals I'm currently eating (very plant based diet). The further we got into the conversation the more silence there was. Finally, she said "This sounds so disciplined." I laughed.

Here's the thing. I've had to Retrain my Brain. All the foods that eat I enjoy. Believe me I do not compromise taste. I love food too much. I have found foods that I enjoy that happen to be good for me.

• Like my new friend wheat berries -- love those little nutty kernels. They are versatile. I can eat them with savory items or with fresh fruit and a drizzle of honey. 
• Kale -- King of the greens. I sauté the greens, use them in soups, or make crunchy kale chips for a snack. 

I see it like this, if I'm using coconut milk then I don't compare it to the taste of cow's milk. I'm no longer drinking cow's milk for various reasons. They don't taste the same nor should they.

Disciplined? Okay, sure that's fair. I've made a commitment to myself. I'm in pursuit of health, wellness, and weight loss -- it's a holistic approach. I want to honor my body with good whole food, but still be able to enjoy the taste. I also realize that working out is only about 20 percent of the equation when it comes to weight loss. I know that what matters more is what I eat. It makes no sense to workout as hard as I've been if I'm not going to eat well. It's counterproductive.  So, I've retrained my brain and I'm disciplined.

Right here

I'm guessing that about right here is where most folks would give up. Throw in the towel. It's too hard, frustrating. It's not happening fast enough. You're eating right and have a solid workout regimen. It's been two weeks now. What gives? Ha. All jokes aside.

I've been plateaued for several months now. Well, I did lose three pounds a few weeks ago, but that's a small drop in the bucket.  This is a hard spot. It's pivotal. Two choices: Fold or persevere. If you fold you can guarantee you will never get there. You can't get there without being here. Being here and staying here for a while is a choice. And, then there's being here, right here, and finding strategies to get through these challenging plateau periods.

If I would've stopped here...

My response to my body's latest plateau: I've sought a team of personal trainers (Northwest Personal Training) to assist me with my workout routines and I am refocusing my attention to my eating habits. Plateaus are our bodies way of saying uh...I need you to do something different. I have your workout and eating habits figured out.

News flash: Fitness and weight loss don't just happen. They require work. Lots of hard work. Consistency. Determination. Tenacity.

...I wouldn't be here

Think about the ripped guy at the gym. He didn't get those pecks overnight. Did he have challenges? You bet he did. But, he stayed with it. Yours truly didn't lose 170 pounds overnight. I've had to work through all sorts of obstacles. But, I've never given up. I just find a different way. 

Folks, take it from yours truly, there are no magic pills when it comes to fitness and weight loss. Hard work, patience, and a never give up attitude is what it takes. I'm guessing, right here is where you are highly motivated to make the commitment to your fitness and weight loss goals.

Nice touch

I was rummaging through some papers and found a printed copy of an email from one of my admired Seattle University professors, Gary Atkins. It was my senior year. The course I was taking was CMJR 315: Literary Journalism. I'll admit I forgot what the assignment choices were, but I wrote my piece on my family and our domino games, "The Domino Effect."

 I recall writing that piece like it was yesterday. I was stressed out having to write it because it was unlike any piece of writing I had ever done. Literary journalism is factual writing with a creative, fictional twist. And, like most college students although I had the assignment weeks prior I waited until the last minute to write it. Once I started writing though the ideas, memories, and words just started flowing. It's still one of my favorite pieces today.

Here's what Gary wrote:

Sunday, March 13, 2005

Chrisetta - 
This is a really fine piece of writing -- it takes me both into the game itself, where I can both see and hear it and it takes me into the heart of the family, even more importantly. Really nice descriptive phrases, really good command of the organization spiraling around the hub both of the game itself and of the lessons it taught you. Superb job! You've got a very nice touch with words when you push yourself and go for them! 
A+

Gary L. Atkins
Associate Professor, Communication

I feel so lucky to do what I love on a daily. And, It's kinda cool to have at least a few folks reading and enjoying what I write. As always, thanks for reading.

Next Level

Should working out be this fun?

I've been at this for a long time -- battling obesity. The finish line is within sight, but the closer I get to it the harder reaching it seems. I'll admit, I'm at the point where I need help. I can't do this alone. My tool belt is empty and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Nor am I afraid to seek help. I started thinking...Hmm...A personal trainer is what I need. Someone to guide me, challenge me, gently kick my butt, and push me to the Next Level.

Score! Not only did I find a trainer, I found a team. I'm super-duper excited to be training with Northwest Personal Training. A small, upscale studio with a team of awesome certified personal trainers led by Sherri McMillan a leader in the fitness industry.

I'm confident that I'm in good hands with these folks. There are no gimmicks. No frills. No magic pills. Just them working me to my maximum potential. In turn, I'll give them everything I have every time out. But, my work doesn't stop at the studio -- when I'm away I'll fuel my body by eating fresh, wholesome food and getting plenty of rest.  The team will help me stay on track by reviewing my food diary periodically. On Friday, to jump start my bid to the finish line we recorded my weight and measurements. Now, we have a clear idea of our starting point and it's time to do this!

I got my dukes up!

The finish line seems closer with the help of my new team at Northwest Personal Training. I'm committed to my health and fitness and with their help it's time I push myself to the Next Level.

Check out their website for more info on their Vancouver and Portland studios :
http://www.nwpersonaltraining.com/

Easy come, easy go

Let me tell you, battling obesity is a hard gig. 170 pounds gone forever and I'm still 60 pounds away from my goal. I'm proud to say, during these last seven years on and off,  I've never regained any of the lost pounds. I've maintained my weight. That's a big accomplishment. Part of the reason I believe I've been able to not back track is because

a.  I know how hard it was to get the pounds off and I never want to go there again
b.  Losing the weight through making conscious food choices and exercise teaches me
     lessons
c.  Repeat x5:  It was too hard to get the pounds off and I never want to go there again

I've been propositioned many times to take supplements such as: Advocare, Medifast, etc. I've declined because I like food, real food and any program that tells me I can't eat fruit - forget about it. Seriously, I just feel like any diet is just that a diet. Sure, someone gives you a plan with some pre-packaged food and you follow it. Then one day you don't eat the pre-packaged food anymore... Losing weight through conscious food choices helps you to learn how to manage food. You have to learn to make better choices. Eating out of packages is just that. There's no control. No creativity. You're boxed in. And, exercising  burns calories while keeping your heart healthy. It just seems like the most logically approach. I'll admit, making conscious food choices and learning how to eat correctly is challenging. Creating a workout regimen and staying with it takes discipline. But, for me it's worth it.

I don't want to back track. I want lasting results. The way I see it -- lasting results come from hard work. Staying in the trenches has taught me all sorts of lessons about food, exercise, my body, and my fortitude. I've tried the Drive-thru and ATM approach before -- it's fleeting. Easy come, easy go.  No lessons are learned with the quick-fix approach. I stay at it, the hard way because I never, ever want to do this again. I'm changing my life for good. The hard way. I know within myself once I hit my goal I will stay there.

**Of course everyone must follow their own path so if supplements work for you then hey go for it. I just want us all to be healthy, fit, and happy.