WEEK 22...Nikki returns from a successful vacation of staying on track. Read about her confidence in finishing this portion of her Lifestyle Change strong.

Now that Nikki is home from vacation, it’s time to get refocused on her weight loss journey.  I was proud of Nikki for maintaining her weight on vacation.  That is success to not gain weight as she used the tools I have given her to leave her home and safety zone and feel confident balancing diet and exercise while having fun too! 

Nutritional Homework

As we have finally reached the summer season, I have asked Nikki to continue experimenting with whole foods and broaden her range of foods.  I have asked her to experiment with great whole grains such as brown rice and quinoa as they are loaded with fiber and nutrients.  I have also asked her to challenge herself with trying a new vegetable every week now that she will have more time to sample a variety of recipes.

Exercise Homework

Getting back into exercise I have added a different variation of the squat-n-press using a barbell.  I have also added a row movement using the barbell moving swiftly from one exercise to the next.  I have rounded out a full body circuit with dumbbell chest presses on an exercise ball which incorporates core and Nikki is continuing to master the dreaded lunges.  Way to go, Nikki.

Nikki’s Comments

With only a few weeks left in this Lifestyle Change, I’m feeling extra pressure to finish with strong results. I suppose I want to prove that good ole’ diet and exercise really is doable for someone with a lot of weight to lose and a lifetime of unhealthy habits to break. I want to make it count for the YMCA who really has given me the tools needed to change/save my life. And I hope to inspire others to become a better version of themselves by having the courage to face whatever they’re battling.

I know I’ll have good numbers to share soon, but I’m trying not to let the pressure of hitting a big goal, overshadow the successes I already know to be true. I’m finally ready to make this change. This is the new me, fighting to reclaim my health and quality of life with every workout and food choice. And I’m really doing it! It’s an exciting revelation. It sounds cheesy, but my future’s looking bright! J

Week 21: Nikki goes on vacation! How can you not indulge on vacation? Nikki shows us how!

Week Twenty One

Nikki did a great job last week organizing her schedule for the summer. She scheduled time to meal plan, cook and rest which is creating more balance in her life. That was an important positive change to see!

This week we discussed the importance of hormones.  Metabolic hormones are chemical messengers that control and coordinate activities throughout the endocrine system. When they become “imbalanced” our bodies can be thrown out of whack and it can derail your ability to maintain a healthy weight.  Hunger hormones such as leptin and grehlin are meant to tell us when to start and stop eating.  When these get out of whack it can create overeating and cravings.  So how does this happen?  Much research has identified processed foods, chemicals in our food and environment, lack of sleep, and stress to be some of the key factors in this growing problem. Basically, your body reacts to what you put into your body and how you treat it.  Adding more whole foods (foods high in vitamins/minerals), reducing stress, exercising and getting more sleep are ways to ensure you will keep your hunger and metabolism balanced.

Nutritional Homework

Nikki is going on vacation this week and I have asked her to PLAN.  She will be taking some protein bars and protein powder with her for snacks and will have access to a kitchen for cooking.  When dining in restaurants she will review the restaurant’s nutrition guide so that she will be better inclined to make a “healthy” choice.  Nikki will still continue to keep a diet journal for her own self-regulation (I will be checking her too!).

Exercise Homework

While on vacation I have asked Nikki to put together a daily workout schedule.  She will have access to a gym and will be doing a lot of walking outside.  I have also asked her to work on her lunges every other day as no gym equipment will be necessary (no excuses!)

Nikki’s Comments

My family and I had a great time on vacation! We did a variety of fun activities and enjoyed more downtime than we’ve had on past trips. It was just what we needed to come back feeling refreshed. But it was an 8-day stretch that challenged my new healthy lifestyle habits. There was temptation everywhere and a certain amount of ‘eat, drink, and be merry’ mentality comes with any vacation right? Well, I knew Jodi was anxiously waiting to see my food/exercise log when I returned and I didn’t want to let her down! And I really wanted to come back on fire to finish this Lifestyle Change package strong. I packed my workout attire and healthy snacks and asked my husband for extra moral support.

I left feeling good about my food/fitness for the week. I wasn’t perfect – I ate mostly healthy with a few indulgences too. But I never felt deprived. It was important to me to find that balance – enjoying my food/drink without ruining my whole day’s efforts. I was also able to exercise every day. Wow. I’m proud of myself for that one! Six months ago I didn’t exercise once a week – let alone every day during vacation! My husband even joined me for the gym time and outdoor walks. We both enjoyed being active together (it’s a whole new area for us to explore) – although walking around mountain country is much different than around here!

We always try to visit an outlet mall during our vacations. This time I wanted to find an article of clothing to use as motivation. I looked for a ‘little black dress’ (that fashion staple for any woman’s closet that’s never been in mine) but I didn’t have any luck finding one. Instead I bought a green jacket that I love. I’m able to wear it but not comfortably and definitely not buttoned. My goal is to be able to close that jacket by fall. And who knows, maybe even looking cute over that stylish black dress I’ll be in. I can’t wait!

Wek 20: Nikki wrestles with her schedule...again

This week Nikki and I discussed a topic that she is no stranger to…….stress!  Everyone has some stress. It becomes problematic when we are consistently running all day, playing “beat the clock” to get all of our many tasks, play dates and kid’s activities completed.  When stress continues for a long time, cortisol (a stress hormone) remains high. When cortisol is high it causes the body to resist losing weight.  Cortisol tends to move fat to our abdomen, which creates more inflammation and insulin resistance in the body. This puts you into a cycle of food/sugar cravings and difficulty losing weight while increasing health risks for diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, lowered immunity and suppression of thyroid function – the list goes on.  So what’s a gal to do?

1)     Get control and seek more balance in your life - what can I change about my schedule to create a little more peace for myself and family?

2)    Incorporate 1 stress management technique today:

A) Exercise – releases “feel good hormones”

B) Deep breath technique – scientifically proven (in a seated or lying position, count to 4 breathing in slowly and deeply, hold to the count of 4, and exhale counting to 4 – continue for several minutes)

C)  Outside/Nature – go for walk/bike ride/– enjoy the sunshine

D)  Maintain a spiritual practice

      3)  Laugh- it is the best medicine!   

 

Nutritional Homework

Nikki’s busy lifestyle is a constant theme in her weight loss journey.  While she is finding success with this program, juggling and managing her busy lifestyle is still a problematic concern.  She is losing every week but it has been a slow process. One that I believe could increase if her schedule was more balanced.  A famous quote I keep bringing up, “Insanity: Doing the same thing and expecting different results.”  We have discussed her schedule and luckily things should slow down this summer, therefore, I have asked her to chart her schedule on an open calendar for the month of June. I have asked her not to chart on her IPhone as this has prevented her from seeing how overbooked her schedule is becoming.  I would like to see her schedule some “down time” every day so she has time to practice some stress management techniques and can also dedicate more forethought and planning with meal preparation.  If we want to be successful in anything we do we have to prioritize and plan – the same goes with weight-loss.

Exercise Homework

Nikki will continue her same workout as last week but will bump her weights to the next increment of weight – further challenging herself and raising the bar of intensity.

Nikki’s Comments

Well yes, we are still talking about my hectic lifestyle hindering my weight loss. It’s so frustrating to me that this keeps tripping me up! I’m realizing that I’m excusing busy weeks as “temporary” and just trying to survive to get to a more “normal” schedule.
But they keep coming – more and more stretches of time that I’m wishing away and running ragged to keep up. The people and areas I care most about will suffer when I continually have little energy, attention and time to give. So I’ve got to get my schedule under control!
I’ve made some great strides with working in regular exercise, but now I need to carve out some downtime or “margins” in my life. I’m taking a hard look at my family’s summer calendar and am committed to staying home more, relaxing, and focusing on improving the quality of my life - body, mind and spirit. I want to look back on this journey as the time in my life when I stopped running away from dealing with my lifelong weight issues and started running toward my goals of a truly happy, healthy life!

WEEK 19...Jodi and Nikki talk about food triggers and how to respond. Nikki also adds lunges and kneeling woodchopper squat to this week's workout routine. What are some of your food triggers?

Nikki and I discussed the topic of food triggers this week.  A food trigger is an un-intentioned slipup that can derail your healthy eating intentions by creating cravings or overeating for particular foods, these triggers can be both physical and emotional.  We’ve all had moments when we’ve rewarded our weight loss efforts with some of our favorite forbidden foods in an effort to find balance and moderation, only to realize that we’ve overindulged and are then riddled with guilt and consequence to our actions (extra workouts).  Trying to identify and bring awareness to our actions and eating patterns is critical to changing negative behavioral patterns.

Nutritional Homework

I have provided Nikki with a food triggers exercise form for her to complete so that she can identify and work through the process of changing this behavioral pattern for herself.

Exercise Homework

I have continued to add variety and progress with her program.  I have now added walking lunges to strengthen her lower body muscles groups (quads, hamstrings and glutes) and elevate her heart rate as to increase the intensity and fat burning potential.  I have also added a great core strengthening exercise, the kneeling woodchopper squat, which allows her to increase strength in her core when moving in a rotational range of motion (which is more functional for daily life) - Nikki should be a little sore after this one!

Nikki’s Comments

I’ve always known certain foods are ‘dangerous’ for me to be around. After all, who can eat just one cookie? Well I can’t. Cookies and potato chips are two of my trigger foods that I can NOT have in my house without overeating. So I just don’t buy them – for now they are off limits. I’ve had a small amount around others if I’m really having a craving, but I’m careful not to bring any back into my home! Jodi has taught me it’s important to keep my home a ‘safe’ haven. It’s been helpful for me to recognize which foods I can control better than others. And also remember that if I make a poor choice, there will always be consequences!

What I never considered was that triggers can also be settings – places I visit where I tend to overindulge. That was a real eye-opener for me. I had to identify which environments (or even company I encountered) were triggers for me to revert back to my unhealthy eating habits. And then think of ways to combat them so I am not left feeling vulnerable. This worksheet about behavioral modification felt more like therapy for me to complete. It was another reminder how deeply rooted these issues are for me - I’m trying to change behaviors I’ve had for decades! But figuring out the who, what, where, when, and (most difficultly) the why of my triggers to overeat is an essential part of this journey.

WEEK 18...Jodi encourages Nikki to add more beans to her menu line-up for her protein and Nikki takes advantage of the nicer weather to exercise outside.

Often in an effort to incorporate more protein in our diet we think of meat, eggs, and dairy which can get boring and can limit our nutritional intake.  Therefore………think beans!  Beans are a wonderful way to add high quality plant based protein to your diet.  They are high in iron, b-vitamins and fiber, and are versatile enough that you may never tire of them.  There is a wonderful variety to choose from such as black beans, northern, chickpeas, kidney and lima beans, as well as “super beans” like mung beans and lentils.  You can make them in a crockpot or simply open a can (be sure to strain) and incorporate them into a meal – so simple and tasty!

Nutritional Homework

I have encouraged Nikki to try a new bean this week – adding chickpeas to a salad or black beans to a wrap to bring a Mexican and hearty flare to a quick and easy meal on the go!

 

 

Exercise Homework

It’s time to take Nikki’s cardio workouts up-a-notch, therefore, I have added more intensity to Nikki’s EFX and Bike workouts incorporating more intervals.  Nikki continues her treadmill workout as well, but I have asked her to take more walks outside as it will be more enjoyable and scenic being with nature, making the workout fly by!

Nikki’s Comments

As the weather is getting warmer, it’s been fun venturing outside more! I have always enjoyed leisure time outdoors, but I’ve never been a fan of exercising outside. Maybe it’s because I feel more self-conscious, or just hate to sweat in the heat. I’ve never been considered an ‘outdoorsy’ girl – I don’t like to hike through the woods or go on nature walks. And I honestly don’t think I’ll ever understand the allure that runners have to hitting the pavement. I like the structure the gym offers - rotating machines and knowing my goals on each helps make me feel like I’m staying on track and being efficient. But outdoor activities add a nice variety to a workout plan, so I want to be intentional about finding what I can enjoy doing outside that can ‘count’ as exercise this summer. Walking and biking, doing yard work and gardening, and joining my kids as they play games are all on my list.

 

 

WEEK 17...Jodi and Nikki explore the grocery store and health food store. Nikki also succeeds at buying a new pair of gym shoes.

This week Nikki and I enjoyed a field trip together getting outside of the Y and embracing a quest to find the perfect pair of workout shoes (funny story that Nikki will share below) as well as grocery shopping and having a delightful lunch at the health food store!  After much discussion about nutrition, I wanted to give Nikki hands on assistance at the grocery store identifying healthier options in the sea of selections, which can be overwhelming.  We shopped the perimeter of the store discussing the various fruit and vegetable options as well as the danger zone, processed/packaged items.  In the end, she was able to find some options that she and her family could feel good about.

 

Nutritional Homework

Broadening fruit and vegetable intake takes effort so I have encouraged Nikki to try some new fruits and vegetable options this week.  I have also recommended getting the kids involved since she often is shopping with them by having them pick-out something new every week for the family to try.  This technique will get the kids more excited about eating healthier as well!

 

Exercise Homework

Nikki is continuing to follow her kettle bell workout and is feeling challenged.  I have added some stretching to keep her flexible and to help prevent any potential injuries, it’s also a relaxing way to end your workout!  We now have a new stretch machine at the Y which makes it even more easy and practical to stretch!

 

Nikki’s Comments

Several weeks ago Jodi mentioned the possibility of going to the grocery store together and I knew that would be so helpful. We both prepared a list of areas of the store to discuss and I came ready to take notes! Although she kept us moving, (I could have wondered around for hours asking her questions!) our time was very productive. Jodi showed me products that I had never noticed, explained why certain types of food were healthier choices than others, and challenged me to try preparing new items. I am open-minded but knew I had to be realistic with what my family would eat, and what our budget would allow. Healthy cooking isn’t cheap, but figuring out which substitutions we like and/or are most advantageous is the key to making lasting changes.

I left Meijer feeling capable but next came the Health Food Store. It was my first time there and honestly I was overwhelmed. I was surrounded by products I had never heard of.  It was as if I was in a foreign land and everyone was speaking a different language. It pushed me outside my comfort zone but I was really glad we went. It was enlightening to see how many products are on the market for everyday people trying to make healthier choices for their families. I picked up a few items, hummus, coconut oil, pumpkin and sesame seeds to incorporate and I plan to return to spend more time browsing the aisles.

The other goal for our field trip was to find a quality pair of work-out tennis shoes. Although that sounds easy enough, it took me awhile to find just the right pair.  Thanks to Jodi for being so patient!  Our first stop took entirely too long when the overly helpful salesman insisted I pick from a handful of ugly, extra-wide orthotic shoes. I reluctantly tried them on and listened to his sales pitch but knew I was not going to spend $100 on something I did not like! After two more stops and learning exactly what to ask, and what not to ask, we found a pair of Asics that fit both function and style. My workout apparel leaves a lot to be desired, but a good pair of shoes makes all the difference for this girl! J

 

WEEK 16...Jodi shares tips on boosting metabolism and Nikki opens up about her improvement to her daily eating schedule.

We often hear the term metabolism, and are told that we need to speed it up so we can lose weight, but what does that really mean?  The layman’s definition of metabolism is “the chemical process that converts fuel from food into energy”.  There are several factors that impact your metabolism that you can’t control such as age, gender and genetics, however there are some simple ways to boost your metabolism naturally that you can control.  Research has identified that eating breakfast (which means breaking the fast) and eating regularly (about every 3-4 hours) are great ways to speed up your metabolism.   Various foods and drinks can boost metabolism as well such as vegetables, lemon/lime, peppers, nuts/seeds, beans and lean protein, coffee and green tea can boost metabolism significantly daily in a natural, healthful way.  No weight loss supplements needed! 

Another way is to speed up metabolism is gaining more muscle through strength training.  Strength training speeds up metabolism for 24 hours after performing exercises.  For every one pound of muscle you gain your body burns approximately 50 calories per day. 

Nutritional Homework

I have asked Nikki to add a new metabolism boosting food or beverage to her diet this week.  A simple homemade lemonade recipe:

8 oz. water, ½ lemon, stevia (squeeze lemon juice into water and add stevia to taste – if sour – add more stevia) – add crushed ice and lemon slice for garnish if desired – refreshing on a hot summer day!

 

Exercise Homework

Nikki is still perfecting her kettle bell routine and I have added a plié squat-n-upright row to her routine which targets her inner thighs and shoulders.  Nikki’s kettle bell routine consists of 5 exercises that are performed quickly and explosively, elevating her heart rate and intensity.

Nikki’s Comments

Some things seem so obvious…until this week I never thought about the word breakfast literally meaning ‘breaking the fast’ you’ve had through the night (duh!). Before working with Jodi, I’d usually wait a few hours before consuming anything in the morning (typically grabbing something quick while running out the door). But Jodi has encouraged me to eat an earlier breakfast to jump start my metabolism for the day. Then I have a mid-morning snack to keep me from going too long between meals. That was another change – I had thought if I wasn’t feeling hungry, I shouldn’t eat. Staying busy often distracted me from eating or drinking for 5-6 hour stretches but then I’d become so hungry, I’d overeat. I never realized that was a problem, in fact, I thought it was better to eat 2-3 large meals than be snacking all day long. Neither extreme are healthy approaches. My goal now is to eat lightly every 3-4 hours to prevent that ‘must eat now’ sense of urgency leading to unhealthy food choices. And I’m intentionally drinking more water throughout the day. It’s quality not just quantity that matters. For example instead of a pop tart, I’m trying to incorporate oatmeal or scrambled eggs. It keeps me feeling full longer and actually forces me to stop, sit and enjoy my meal. Wow there’s a novel concept…hmm, these lessons seem so obvious but yet so foreign sometimes!