Hello Everyone,
Its Measurement Monday and I have decided to do things a little bit differently this time. For the past 3-4 years I have not really been one to focus on the scale since I have always been aware that I train to gain lean mass. My body can look completely different if I am 135 pounds of not lifting vs 150 and lifting. I prefer to be the body type that looks like they lift. With that being said, since doing the measurement Monday I started focusing on the scale more rather than how I felt, what my body actually looked like, how I am blessed to be progressing and that just because my pre pregnancy pants are nowhere near fitting me after 6 weeks that its totally okay. I am energized, healthy, happy and balanced (goal is that Rachel Novello and I will start posting picture updates every other week and the week we dont post pictures we will update with improvments or things we learned that week)
I wanted you guys to know that if you are being consistent, if you are getting stronger, having more endurance, feeling energized, happy and healthy that you should do like I am and make a top 10-15 list of reasons why you should be proud even though it may not feel like you are progressing (as quickly as you like). Here is my list and I hope this will help you get started creating your own. Part of transforming is mind health so let this be one step towards a healthier mindset.
JZ Top 15 of Why she Should be Proud even If the Scale Wont BUDGE
1. I Birthed a Child Completely Natural 6 weeks ago (22 hours labor & 5 Hours Hard Labor)
2. I went from holding one infant a week before having Ahrianna to being a full time mom (minus my "Me Time" or if Brandon takes her when I nap/shower)
3. I lifted my ENTIRE Pregnancy even at the end when I was still nauseous, gained 12 pounds from swelling in the last two weeks, worked 12 hour night shifts in a hospital and even did overtime up until I was 33 weeks pregnant.
4. I ate clean 80% of the time throughout my pregnancy and since having Ahrianna I have ate clean 99% of the time (I had a few pieces of chocolate and ate a moderate amount of desserts yesterday at the Super Bowl Party). For the most part I don't have any cravings. I think having a higher fat diet has helped with my hormones which is ultimately in control of most cravings (besides the mind game cravings).
5. I listened to my OB, Brandon and myself and did not workout for 2 solid weeks postpartum. This one was tough for me because by the time two weeks rolled around I was desperate to get out of the house but you better believe I cried the entire way to the gym and even took a video to show other people that I struggle too with making myself a priority at times but if we take care of ourselves then we can be better parents. I'll be honest the minute I went to the gym and came home I was recharged and ready for the day. It didn't matter that I didn't have any sleep the night before, that my back ached from breastfeeding or that I wasn't able to get any of the house cleaned. I was energized, focused and excited to do more at home.
6. For the last 4 weeks I have listened to my body. I have not restricted my calories (to the point of being unhealthy), I have trained with purpose, passion and patience (you must be patient when you are used to lifting like a beast and now have to lift like a newbie. I was back to doing bodyweight exercises but that was okay because I was able to have my "me time" in the gym and that felt AMAZING)
7. Not to repeat number 6 but I have been consistently lifting 4-5 days a week for the last four weeks and have stuck to limited to no cardio. Its better to do less cardio in the beginning because you do not want to have to go to any extremes to cut during contest prep season. I try to do my cardio/conditioning with the purpose of increasing my endurance. I never appreciated being able to run with ease, lift with power or do drills without wanting to pass out. I was the newbie in the gym again and I'm proud that I didn't let that discourage me.
8. I'm proud that the first week I started lifting again I struggled to do 15 bodyweight squats and now I can do 115 for 15 reps easily (full time under tension).
9. I started leg press with 90 pounds which felt pretty tough to doing 360 pounds + 210 pounds of my trainer pushing his entire bodyweight against it (for added resistance) today.
10. I DID A PULL-UP!!!! I mean.... I had assistance but I don't care! When I was pregnant the thought of doing a pull-up made me want to cry and when I tried doing just a few I would be so short of breath I needed to rest for 3+ minutes.
11. I started tracking my food a week and a half ago which was a little emotional for me at first because for any of you that know me know that I have a past history of having an unhealthy relationship with food/exercise. Long story short I competed for 2.5 years straight without a break, had a boyfriend who was my prep coach (nutrition, workouts, bodyfat, posing, supplements, sleep, you name it), I went through some nasty hormonal imbalances from dieting too long, I was on Dr Phil on April 2012 (http://www.drphil.com/shows/show/1821) and he sent me to an Eating Disorder Facility for 8 weeks. Once I returned home I ended things with my then fiance, moved out, met Brandon, started to prep again, got pregnant, had ahrianna and now plan to pursue my passions of competing but with an ENTIRELY different level of awareness. So when I said that tracking was a little emotional it was only because I had not done it for so long, that I had to revisit that past so I could be aware of my emotions and that for the first time in a long time I felt a small sense of fear with contest prep (if you guys are interested in this topic I can go into detail with another blog about my fears, why I am determined to do a show, whats different this time and so on.)
12. I asked for help when I needed it. There was a point last week when I was so tired I was scared to breastfeed Ahrianna. It was in the middle of the night while I was trying to breastfeed that I almost dropped her because I fell fast asleep (just fyi: I did several things to try and not fall asleep and had her on a boppy pillow). This was quite the reality check for me. Its okay if I need help and cant do it all. I have a loving fiance who wants to help.
This is a BIG ONE FOR ME!!! I rarely if ever will ask for help. I tend to be the person that helps others rather than let anyone help me. However, I have come to realize that as much as I find joy in helping other people that other people find joy in helping me. This is something that I am getting better at it but it definitely does not come naturally.
13. I took Ahrianna to her doctor appointments by myself after the first one and then took her to the grocery store (after her 4 week appointment). I tell you what!?!?! I have a lot of respect for moms out there (or full time dads). It's not easy taking kids to appointments or out on errands for the first few times while they are infants. Kudos to everyone that is trying to be great parents! Its one of the hardest but best jobs on the planet.
14. That I have not had any outbursts due to lack of patience with Ahrianna, Brandon or life. I know being a new mom with CrAzY hormones we are more susceptible to lash outs and I feel like I have been very positive throughout my pregnancy/post pregnancy (Feel free to ask Brandon or people close to me. Its funny because my mom and my best friend swore I would be quite the spit fire during pregnancy but for the first time in my life I feel like I am present in my thoughts, I am aware of my actions and I can control them both)
15. My body is curvy the way that I like, my body is getting stronger the way that I like, my body is functioning more efficiently the way that I like and that my body does NOT define who I am........the way that I like.
JZ Top 15 of Why she Should be Proud even If the Scale Wont BUDGE
1. I Birthed a Child Completely Natural 6 weeks ago (22 hours labor & 5 Hours Hard Labor)
2. I went from holding one infant a week before having Ahrianna to being a full time mom (minus my "Me Time" or if Brandon takes her when I nap/shower)
3. I lifted my ENTIRE Pregnancy even at the end when I was still nauseous, gained 12 pounds from swelling in the last two weeks, worked 12 hour night shifts in a hospital and even did overtime up until I was 33 weeks pregnant.
4. I ate clean 80% of the time throughout my pregnancy and since having Ahrianna I have ate clean 99% of the time (I had a few pieces of chocolate and ate a moderate amount of desserts yesterday at the Super Bowl Party). For the most part I don't have any cravings. I think having a higher fat diet has helped with my hormones which is ultimately in control of most cravings (besides the mind game cravings).
5. I listened to my OB, Brandon and myself and did not workout for 2 solid weeks postpartum. This one was tough for me because by the time two weeks rolled around I was desperate to get out of the house but you better believe I cried the entire way to the gym and even took a video to show other people that I struggle too with making myself a priority at times but if we take care of ourselves then we can be better parents. I'll be honest the minute I went to the gym and came home I was recharged and ready for the day. It didn't matter that I didn't have any sleep the night before, that my back ached from breastfeeding or that I wasn't able to get any of the house cleaned. I was energized, focused and excited to do more at home.
6. For the last 4 weeks I have listened to my body. I have not restricted my calories (to the point of being unhealthy), I have trained with purpose, passion and patience (you must be patient when you are used to lifting like a beast and now have to lift like a newbie. I was back to doing bodyweight exercises but that was okay because I was able to have my "me time" in the gym and that felt AMAZING)
7. Not to repeat number 6 but I have been consistently lifting 4-5 days a week for the last four weeks and have stuck to limited to no cardio. Its better to do less cardio in the beginning because you do not want to have to go to any extremes to cut during contest prep season. I try to do my cardio/conditioning with the purpose of increasing my endurance. I never appreciated being able to run with ease, lift with power or do drills without wanting to pass out. I was the newbie in the gym again and I'm proud that I didn't let that discourage me.
8. I'm proud that the first week I started lifting again I struggled to do 15 bodyweight squats and now I can do 115 for 15 reps easily (full time under tension).
9. I started leg press with 90 pounds which felt pretty tough to doing 360 pounds + 210 pounds of my trainer pushing his entire bodyweight against it (for added resistance) today.
10. I DID A PULL-UP!!!! I mean.... I had assistance but I don't care! When I was pregnant the thought of doing a pull-up made me want to cry and when I tried doing just a few I would be so short of breath I needed to rest for 3+ minutes.
11. I started tracking my food a week and a half ago which was a little emotional for me at first because for any of you that know me know that I have a past history of having an unhealthy relationship with food/exercise. Long story short I competed for 2.5 years straight without a break, had a boyfriend who was my prep coach (nutrition, workouts, bodyfat, posing, supplements, sleep, you name it), I went through some nasty hormonal imbalances from dieting too long, I was on Dr Phil on April 2012 (http://www.drphil.com/shows/show/1821) and he sent me to an Eating Disorder Facility for 8 weeks. Once I returned home I ended things with my then fiance, moved out, met Brandon, started to prep again, got pregnant, had ahrianna and now plan to pursue my passions of competing but with an ENTIRELY different level of awareness. So when I said that tracking was a little emotional it was only because I had not done it for so long, that I had to revisit that past so I could be aware of my emotions and that for the first time in a long time I felt a small sense of fear with contest prep (if you guys are interested in this topic I can go into detail with another blog about my fears, why I am determined to do a show, whats different this time and so on.)
12. I asked for help when I needed it. There was a point last week when I was so tired I was scared to breastfeed Ahrianna. It was in the middle of the night while I was trying to breastfeed that I almost dropped her because I fell fast asleep (just fyi: I did several things to try and not fall asleep and had her on a boppy pillow). This was quite the reality check for me. Its okay if I need help and cant do it all. I have a loving fiance who wants to help.
This is a BIG ONE FOR ME!!! I rarely if ever will ask for help. I tend to be the person that helps others rather than let anyone help me. However, I have come to realize that as much as I find joy in helping other people that other people find joy in helping me. This is something that I am getting better at it but it definitely does not come naturally.
13. I took Ahrianna to her doctor appointments by myself after the first one and then took her to the grocery store (after her 4 week appointment). I tell you what!?!?! I have a lot of respect for moms out there (or full time dads). It's not easy taking kids to appointments or out on errands for the first few times while they are infants. Kudos to everyone that is trying to be great parents! Its one of the hardest but best jobs on the planet.
14. That I have not had any outbursts due to lack of patience with Ahrianna, Brandon or life. I know being a new mom with CrAzY hormones we are more susceptible to lash outs and I feel like I have been very positive throughout my pregnancy/post pregnancy (Feel free to ask Brandon or people close to me. Its funny because my mom and my best friend swore I would be quite the spit fire during pregnancy but for the first time in my life I feel like I am present in my thoughts, I am aware of my actions and I can control them both)
15. My body is curvy the way that I like, my body is getting stronger the way that I like, my body is functioning more efficiently the way that I like and that my body does NOT define who I am........the way that I like.
The point of this list is to NOT TOOT my own Horn but to show you that when we take the time to look outside our physical expectations that we can really see the beauty and value in the Journey to reach those goals. I hope you join me in making your own list so that you also can feel proud of where you are..... EXACTLY IN THIS MOMENT!
This video is proof that there is so much more to life then physical expectations (this is not me saying those goals are not important but that we can start to prioritize where our energy is used. Its a shame if we spent our time feeling upset for not being thin enough, lean enough or muscular enough when we can HAVE A BLAST just knowing that our goals will come if we stay consistent, listen to our bodies, stress less and love more!
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