Last week when I was in Yoga class the instructor talked about self-control. Once again the topic she was focusing on was aligned with something I was focusing on in my life. Just the week before I was signed up as a Team Beach Body Coach because it was time for me to get control of my life. I had been struggling with weight gain from marathon training for years. It seems that as soon as I started to train for multiple marathons within a year my weight climbed along with my mileage. I am not the first person that this has happened to either. Many people have experienced this problem. But I was sick of it. It was slowing me down, I felt disgusted with myself and I wanted it to stop.
I started the Train Like a Mother Stride Into Summer plan to mix up my running with other exercises and also saw a lot of chatter on Facebook with several friends and acquaintances about achieving success with the 21 day fix. I had to find out more about it. One of my friends reached out to me and told me she was a coach and was very successful in losing over 40 pounds with it; so I decided to join. I joined as a coach in hopes that my experience will also inspire someone else. I also wanted access to all of the tools to make my transformation or commitment a success.
This was just the kick start I needed. In conjunction with the Train Like A Mother plan, which added a workout routine back into my life, I started to combine weight training back into my routine. I replaced one meal with a Shakeology shake and was very conscious about what I was eating and also drinking. I increased my intake of water and decreased my intake of alcohol. I was tired of the lack of self-control and failing at “trying” to lose weight. I wasn’t getting into a habit that was sticking for me. This habit seemed to stick.
As soon as I registered, I had access to many different workout videos to stream online. I used to do videos 15 years ago before I got into running. I wanted to learn how to get a full body workout with weights in a way that would also benefit my running. I didn’t want to do any dance type exercises because I am extremely uncoordinated. I came across Slim in Six and that was my first workout video that I started on Friday, June 3. The next day I discovered Chalean with Chalene Johnson and I was hooked immediately. Her videos included upper and lower body workouts and has three levels to it. The first is the Burn level, the second is the Push level and the third is the Lean level.
I can’t say enough good things about these videos. I don’t like to miss a day without doing one. What I like most about those videos is the fact that I am working out my entire body. I used to just do my arms, chest and back muscles and didn’t work out my legs. I figured all of my running was going to help my leg muscles. But I am seeing now that the exercises that help build my leg muscles will help me feel stronger when I run and will also support those lazy muscles that are being neglected from running alone; which in the past has been a cause of some of my running injuries.
I can’t see a different in my body yet; but I do feel the difference in my mind. And I think that has been the key element for me. I do think I noticed a little more strength when running up hills and I will continue to run the hills, while staying withing my heart rate zone, as I continue my heart rate training for the Marine Corps Marathon. So all in all, I think I may finally be on a road to success and I am proud that I have found something to stick to.
I took a before photo but that photo will not see the light of day until I have an amazing after photo to post next to it. If you are interested in my progress, what I am doing, how I am doing or if you need a coach, please reach out to me! I’d love to share the addictive good behaviors with you!