sometimes, you have to treat yourself!

I have been doing really well with my fitness regiment. I've been trying to only eat meat once a day...with the other two meals either being vegetarian or vegan, or sometimes a juice. And thus far...I've been maintaining that while also exercising (doing at least 20-25 min of yoga everyday, meditation and running 2 times a week). As of today, I am 16 lbs down from 12/27/11!!! I've been losing 1 - 1.5 lbs per week.

One thing that no one told me would happen once you start to lose weight...the girls are getting *gasp* smaller!!! I'm like NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! So now I've got to figure out things to target my belly area - where I want to lose this weight. I'm happy with myself the way I am right now, but I'd like to see a flatter stomach. I'm working on core exercises, pushups, crunches (many varieties)...so keep your fingers crossed for me.

Last night, I met my mentor for dinner. We were taking advantage of the NY Restaurant Week special at City Lobster.



And I had this puppy for dinner last night! YUMMY! I throughly enjoyed myself.

So...it's ok to cheat once in a while, but you have to get back on the horse IMMEDIATELY!!! And it's ok...forgive yourself...and continue to move forward. Anyway one who want to make a change in their life, they can...they just need to DO IT! (gotta love Nike for penning that) ;)

TGIF!!! Have a great weekend!

New fitness goal

So...I've been thinking and I'd like to one day run in a marathon. So I decided to start slowly, but start now...and this year, I'm going to run my first 5K. So I just signed up for this - Run for the Wild at the Bronx Zoo on 4/28/12. Incidentally, that is the day before the MS Walk, which starts at South Street Seaport on 4/29/12.

And...today is my 31st consecutive day doing yoga everyday!!! I joined another 21 day yoga challenge...in the interim...I just kept going...so far so good.

Day 21 - I did it!!!!

Day 12 of the 21 Day Yoga Challenge

So...on Jan 9, I decided to do Yoga Journal's 21 Day yoga challenge - for 21 consecutive days, I have to do 1 yoga practice, meditate for at least 15 minutes and eat at least one vegetarian meals. So for I've made it to day 12...and still on track.

It's definitely a lot of work, but I know it's worth it in the long run. I've also been trying to incorporate running into my routine...and I change up my yoga practices.

I've also challenged myself to drink at least one juice a day (as a meal replacement), drink at least 64 ounces of water a day and log my calories everyday. All in all I've been able to maintain the 11 lbs that I lost from eating better since December 26 and my 5 day juice cleanse. I think I may do another juice cleanse the beginning of February.

Still going strong with my healthy regiment for 2012.

Day 5 of Juicing...

So I have made it to day 5...didn't think I could do it...no food (meat, dairy, grains, nuts, etc.) but I did. I guess I have more will power than I thought!

I started gradually juicing last week, and have been only juicing since Thursday. I went to the doctor on Friday and told him about it...I was originally going to juice for 10 days, but he said I shouldn't do it for more than 5. While juicing, I have been doing some moderate exercise. I ran/jogged/walked on Friday for 3 miles and I walked for 12 miles on Saturday! I walked with my neighbor from Yonkers, through Hastings and Dobbs Ferry into Irvington and back! My feet were killing me (and I was hungry) when I got home.

So I'm in the home stretch...if you put your mind to something...you can do it. Yesterday, I helped my neighbor make pancakes...and I didn't have any! That was torture, but I did it.

Tomorrow, I can have food again...I'm going to ease into it...I'm looking forward to having lasagna at my friend's house on Saturday night =)

A new year, a new perspective...

So, when I last wrote, I was soaking up the rays in Jamaica. Today, it's a balmy 39 degrees...much improved over the last couple of days when it was in the teens!

Today is my first full juicing day. On Christmas eve, I watched the movie, "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" by Joe Cross. It totally changed my life!!!! His journey was very dramatic, he juiced (only had juice) for 60 days!!! But he also had medical conditions and alot more excess weight (~100 lbs) than me. 12/26 is the last day I had coffee...today is 1/5 - the tenth day, since I haven't had caffeine. The first 2-5 days were tough...now it's a little bit easier. That's not to say that I'm never going to have coffee again, but I've made a resolution to myself to eat more healthy this year...and forever! This is all about long term sustainability. So, I'm not giving up bacon FOREVER, but...I know that I can't eat it every day like I used to. Maybe once a week, or once every other week...and eat turkey bacon when I can. My goal is to not have a muffin top when I sit down and I'd like to rock a two piece this summer!!!

On 12/26, I weighted 170lbs. After that, I made it a point to eat more healthy and try and drink juice once a day as one meal replacement. I also have been drinking 64-72 ounces of water a day. This morning I stepped on the scale and I now weigh 163.5 lbs. Not bad for 10 days!!!!

I've also tried to amp up my exercise...insert more cardio into the picture. For the past month or so, I've been trying to jog. I would "jog" for l-2 min, then walk, then jog, then walk....I'd go about 1-2 miles, then walk all the way back. On Monday, 1/1/12, I sprinted for 1-2 min, walked, sprinted, walked (4X when my normal was 2 or 3) for 1 mile, then I jogged (the whole time without stopping) back the entire mile home. I was so amped!!!!

On Tuesday, I went to my very first Zumba class, with my friend Yoli. I didn't think I was going to make it. We were "dancing" for a full 60 minutes! We didn't stop and there were NO SLOW SONGS! It was a workout!!! I was totally drenched when I left there...whoa! I may have to look into doing that once a week...or once every other week to change things up.

And the best part...I had a fabulous New Year's...with a great guy! We had a lot of fun...and I hope to have more.

Here's to everyone...Happy New Year, and all the best for 2012!!!

Gosh...I love vacation!

So...this is coming to you from Negril, Jamaica!!! Where I am chilling with my cousin Melissa (Happy Birthday CUZ!) and enjoying the sun and 80 degree weather! Yesterday we laid by the pool ALL DAY! Drinking, eating and enjoying the view on the cliff side of the town.

Today we have spa appointments at 5pm and dinner reservations in the fancy restaurant at 8pm. I can hardly wait!!!