FitVlog #44: Health Issues, My High BP & Partial Blindness

I debated about posting a vid on this topic for a minute or two.  Mostly because I don't like to complain when I have things go wrong.  Still, the issue is related to fitness and health, so had to be mentioned in a FitVlog.

There's been loads of stress in our household due to some serious financial issues that have come up.  We're dealing with them and should have things resolved soon.  I won't say more on that until everything is done.  We're optimistic that our lives will be back to some sort of normal in the coming months.

Even so, the stress has taken a toll, apparently.  For me personally, I've been eating tons of junk food to keep my mind off things.  Naturally, this did nothing positive for my health.  And I think I've re-activated the high blood pressure I had when my youngest children were born.  Which has left its mark on my eyesight!  Again.

I'd already suffered a "blank" spot in my vision from the preeclampsia.  I'd adjusted to it quite well, since it was only a sliver lost of my sight.  I could still see around it.  But now I'm experiencing patches of vision loss on the sides of both eyes.  And occasional blanking out of most of my vision. This is a problem.

Now, I've set about coming up with solutions to this development.  We aren't wealthy enough to see doctors about such things so I'll have to try fixing the problem on my own.  I've decided to get back to the healthy eating I had been doing months before all the tension started.  Also, the exercise.  I need more of it!  Luckily, the weather is getting warmer.  My favorite exercise happens outside.

Welp, that's the goings on for now.  I'll keep you posted!

Take care out there!  (^.^)v

FitVlog #42 Adventure Walk | Allen Station Park

There was at least one absolutely beautiful morning happening this week.  I decided to take a nice walk that morning and make it into a video!  A bit of adventure was to be had.

The walk ended up being an hour long, so the vid is the condensed version.  It's funny how time just flew.  I think the chatting along the way must have helped.

And, yes, that park can be creepy.  The whole family thinks so, though none of us can put our finger on the cause of it.  Maybe it's just weird that it's there, looking all spiffy, and hardly anyone is there to enjoy it.  Sort of like those fancy neighborhoods with their mountainous homes and not a soul in sight.  I've biked through those neighborhoods.  The sound of my bike changing gears echoed off the cold walls.  Sometimes, I heard the wind in my ears.  Where were all the people?  Maybe this is what the apocalypse would be like in the beginning.  You know, before the crumble of the mortar started.

The park, though, has some lovely spots.  Sadly, development has changed its appearance over the years.  I'm not sure where it's headed.  Is this progress?  We've lost loads of trees and natural spaces.  In the past, I'd be intensely angry about such destruction.  But I've been here a long time.  Maybe too long.  A person can become numb to consistent assault of the land.  Especially, when the majority seems to welcome the changes and sees little value in trees and green things where the animals dwell.  No doubt my opinion on such matters would be laughable to most.

This reminds me of arguments I've had over the years concerning nature and its value.  There are actually some who believe people are more important than any animal.  To the point where an animal's habitat is only valuable if it can be paved over and there's money to be earned from its destruction.  There are those who have the mentality that our "progress" is paramount, regardless the consequences of injecting poisons into the earth and waters.  I'd say there is no advancement if you stomp around childlike on the good things the earth already provides.  Now, learning to live with all the creatures of the earth in a sustainable and healthy way, that's progress.

Until such a state is achieved, I'll appreciate what's left around me.  The small strips of green where the birds sing.  And I'll do my best to preserve what I can.  This may involve slapping myself in the face to wake up from the uncomfortable numb.  ha!

Enjoy the vid! (^.^)v
        

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Video captured with GoPro Hero3 and Samsung Galaxy S5

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FitVlog #30--Max Interval Circuit--INSANITY!--OUCH!!

Well, this happened...

Now, I'm off to bed to prepare for tomorrow's workout!  (^.^)v
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Interested in INSANITY?  Check out my site for the details and more!  http://beachbodycoach.com/sdchan
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Video captured with GoPro Hero3 Black and Samsung Galaxy S5.
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FitVlog #29 INSANITY, The FitTest & Feeling Discouraged

Well, here we are again.  Plugging away at the Insanity program!

Yes, Recovery Week is over.  I enjoyed it!  But, I've missed the routine of the more intense workouts.  No doubt, this second month of Insanity will not disappoint.  In fact, I hope I make it through!

I've heard stories.  They aren't pretty.

And so, here's the video of the FitTest that I'm to do every couple of weeks.  I think I must have missed one!  In any case, in the video are the stats of one of the FitTests I did early on with today's stats.  Not much improvement was seen.  Perhaps, it's because I was in fairly decent shape to begin with.  Or maybe I'd better get a move on!

Today was an emotional one.  Doubts were filling my head that I'll ever finish this program.  And even if I do finish, will I be in good shape?  Somehow I pushed through the excuses and exhaustion.  It's difficult to give yourself a pep talk, sometimes, when you're working out alone.  I recommend finding a group to workout with.  Seriously.  Or talk to me.  :)  We can help each other!  I mean that.  Just some words of encouragement are great.

Enjoy the video!  (^.^)v
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If you are interested in the INSANITY program, or any other Beachbody program, please check out my website:  http://beachbodycoach.com/sdchan
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Video captured with GoPro Hero3 Black and Samsung Galaxy S5  

My FitVlog Day 1

And so it begins...
My journey to humility...
Enjoy!

To learn more about TurboFire and other workout programs I'll be using, please visit my website.
http://www.beachbodycoach.com/sdchan
As an Independent Beachbody Coach, I can answer any questions you may have about Beachbody products and help you find a program that fits your needs.  If you just need a little motivation, I'm here to help with that, too!    

My Fitness Journey--P90X, TurboFire, and Shakeology!

Okay, ladies and gentlemen. People have been asking some questions, because they've noticed something really different about me. Yes, I've lost loads of weight. And I'm not done yet!

 This is a project of mine. A choice I've made to keep myself around a little longer. For the kiddos' sake, among others. And because it's just nice to feel really good. Really, really good!

 In the upcoming week or so, I've plans to post some pics, or even a video of this transformation that began sometime in March of this year. For now, I'll tell you how I'm doing it.

 It all started with this guy, believe it or not...

Yep, P90X. I completed this workout a couple of times. I lost about 20 pounds with Tony Horton and the P90X crew. And as many have said of the workouts, I hate 'em, but I LOVE 'em!

 P90X workouts are fantastic. I've never felt stronger. But still, something was missing. I hadn't changed my lifestyle. I was still eating the same junk and let life sort of get to me. So, any results I got slipped away. It was time to start again, with some modifications. About three or four of them. 

The first and biggest change, my diet! I mean, really big change. One of those changes that you just don't turn your back on. 

 I gave up meat and nearly all dairy! I say "nearly" because, until recently, the diet supplement I've been taking, Chocolate Shakeology, had a bit of it included. And now, they've got a vegan version of it! I look forward to giving it a go very soon. I'll get back to this in just a second, because this stuff has made a tremendous difference in the results I'm getting with my workouts and needs to be mentioned.

 Now, I love P90X and will always have a fondness for it. But, I could feel myself wanting a bit more of a cardio workout. I was getting some bulky muscles and was really wanting a leaner look.

So, the second change I made, was my workout.  And this is it...




 

TurboFire! Love, love, love this! 

 This workout is saving my life, to be sure. I know, it might sound corny, but it's true. Chalene Johnson is such a wonderful motivator. I'm now doing things I never thought I'd be doing at my age, and after having 3 children, all because of her. There's something about what she says that just clicks and makes you push harder. I'm not ashamed to say, she's even made me cry! Inspiring, that woman is.

Alrighty, I guess I'll call this the third thing I changed, though it's really a fantabulous addition to what I've already been doing.  The aforementioned, Chocolate Shakeology!  

As I said before, I gave up meat and most dairy.  My diet consists of veggies and loads of fruit.  Not much bread in there, though a bit on rare occasion.  Sometimes, I'll have nuts or seeds with my salad.  Though I avoid most fat.  Already, this diet makes me feel much better than I have in years.

What Shakeology has done is supply me with tons of nutrients that I might be missing if I don't eat enough fruit and veg.  Which is actually hard to do.  Unless you sit at a salad bar all day!  Or, you could juice your fruit and veg to get lots of nutrients packed into a glass.  Not a bad option, if you've got the time to prepare the juice and the money to buy lots of produce.

Well, I don't have much of either.  Time or money.


That's where Shakeology comes in.  Okay, it appears to cost a pretty penny, if you look at the price per the entire month.  But really, it breaks down to about $3 or $4 dollars a day.  Not bad for something that gives you pretty much everything you need!

Someone pointed out a nutritional data site, that listed Shakeology as being pretty darn healthy, called foodfacts.com  . While I knew the stuff in it was good, I never really knew how it compared to other foods until I looked it up.  Very interesting.  I was sold!

Now, another really cool thing I've noticed about Shakeology is, the weight I've lost while using it, stays off!

There's this 3-day fast you can do using the product that has helped me lose up to 8 pounds in 3 days.  Some people have lost up to 10!  It sounds crazy, but it actually works.  And the best part, the weight stays off.  At least it did for me.  But, now, I didn't go out and eat a pizza after the fast.  I continued with my low fat vegetarian diet and made sure to keep my workouts on track.  This leads me to my next big change.
Change #4, my ATTITUDE!


Yes, this one might be... No, it IS the biggest one of all.


The whole project will fail without the right attitude.  It is a choice.  There's no one else but me to blame for my poor attitude.  I can choose to be positive and do the hard work to better my health, or not.

This time, I've pretty much chosen to do the work.  There are too many good reasons to do it.  And now, it has become a habit, a lifestyle.

Sometimes it helps to just focus thoughts a bit.  Think about how many aspects of life improve when health improves.  It pretty much changes everything.  In a good way, of course.

When I think about how much money I've spent on purchasing P90X, TurboFire and Shakeology, I don't cringe.  Because, I know this was money well spent. An investment in my health, in my life.  And, yeah, this stuff simply works!  I believe in it enough that I decided to become an Independent Beachbody Coach, so I could share what I've learned with other people who are ready for big changes in their lives.

If any of you have questions about what I've mentioned here, drop me an email and I'll get back to you!
 sdchan@beachbodycoach.com

More about this journey, coming soon~~