Friday, January 30, 2009

Week 4 (Part 2) - Tips from Andy for This Week!

Week 4 is quickly coming to and end...and so is January! Where does time go?! I've dropped just over 11 lbs and i'm so excited to hear how you are doing!! You can post your comments here.

In case you missed Andy's tips this week, here they are:


-Remember to try and fill your grocery carts with as many colors of fruits and vegetables as possible. These nutritious foods go great with any foods and the variety will help fight boredom which may lead to cheating.

-To maximize your metabolism you should eat every 2-3 hours. Your typical day will look include breakfast, a mid-morning snack, lunch, mid-afternoon snack, and dinner with an optional snack 3-4 hours before bed. By spacing each meal 2-3 hours apart you will keep your metabolism burning fast all day but never be too stuffed or too starving.

-Try to limit your carbohydrate intake for dinner and any snacks you eat after dinner. Activity levels are lower after dinner so the carbs wonʼt be used for energy and in turn stored as fat. Try evening snacks like almonds or yogurt.

-If you have been resistance training for a while and donʼt seem to be getting stronger or seeing results, try increasing the number of reps, sets or amount of weight being used. This will overload the muscle and allow it to get stronger.

-Try to change your workout routine often to keep your muscles guessing so they never hit a plateau by getting used to the same exercises. Try using dumbbells instead of machines, exercise ball instead of a bench, resistance bands instead of weights.

-It is important to take a multivitamin daily. This will help to prevent any deficiencies in your diet which can lead to a number of health problems.

Keep up the GREAT work! God Bless!

david

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Week 4 (Part 1) - 11lbs down...

YAY! We are in the middle of week 4! I am so encouraged, not just by what I've accomplished, but by every person that I have heard from who is changing their lifestyle too! God is doing great things in so many lives...and I'd love to hear YOUR story! You can post it in the "comments" section of my blog.

The last time I weighed in, I had dropped just over 11 lbs! It's hard to believe...but, I am so thankful for it! This week has definitely been a tough week, but I'm getting through it! I am reminded daily that I'm FAR from perfect and there's no need to beat myself up over that...and you shouldn't either! God is a God of 2nd, 3rd, and even 50th chances! You just pick yourself up and keep going. That's the lesson I've been learning most through this experience!

Keep up the GREAT work! We're almost finished with week 4!

Friday, January 23, 2009

Week 3 (Part 2) - Another Week Comes to An End!

With 10lbs off, I'm ready to head into week #4! Thanks for all of the encouragement and messages left on the blog! Keep me updated on how you're doing...and Andy (my trainer from Infinity Fitness) will keep answering any questions you might have! If you missed some of Andy's tips this week, here they are:


-Your body is in a fasting state while you sleep. That is why it is important to eat breakfast as soon as possible when you wake up to get your metabolism burning. If you break the word breakfast into 2 words it says BREAK FAST…when you eat breakfast you are “Breaking the fast” that your body is in!

-It is important to eat SMALL PORTIONS every 2-3 hours. This will give you a constant stream of energy all day instead of having those mid-afternoon crashes. You might feel stuffed all the time for a week or two but your body will soon speed up and actually burn MORE calories than it was before!

-It IS possible to eat too few calories. If you are trying to lose weight and not able to you might be starving yourself. If you are a woman eating less than 1200 calories or a man eating less than 1600 calories then chances are your metabolism is crawling because it is not being fed enough. Try adding calories over a couple days to your diet and you just might jump off that plateau!

-Limit the microwavable meals to 1-2 per week due to high amounts of sodium and preservatives; instead try cooking more, even if it is in advance.

-There are 2 kinds of carbohydrates, complex and simple carbs. Simple carbs are the bad ones and they are found in high sugar foods like pop, cakes and candy bars. These give you a “sugar high" and soon after leave you with less energy than before. Complex carbs are the good ones and they are found in foods such as whole wheat and whole grains, beans, fruits, vegetables and high fiber foods. These are preferred because they give you energy slowly over a long period of time.

-Park as far away as possible in the parking lots and take the stairs instead of the elevator to increase calories burnt throughout the day.

It's so great to see so many people making the decision to live a healthier lifestyle! God will honor that decision...keep up the GREAT work! If you want to find out more about my Personal Trainer, Andy, and Infinity Fitness...check out their website www.infinity-fit.com! They have some really fun things there for you!

David

Monday, January 19, 2009

Week 3 (Part 1) - Time is flying...and the weight is too! :-)

I REALLY can't believe we are starting week number 3 today!! Time has been flying by...and I've heard so many stories of how God is using this to help transform lives and families...it's AMAZING! If you're working through this with me...keep up the amazing work! If you haven't started yet...it's never too late...hop on board!

It's lunch time right now, and I'm eating my turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread with fresh strawberries...YUM! As I sit here stuffing my face, I have just been encouraged by so many people...that I thought I would encourage YOU! At the end of 2 weeks, I've lost a total of almost 10 pounds (Andy will be talking about that more on the show today...I hope you can listen between 3 and 7)! So, if you are feeling down or discouraged today, let me be the FIRST to pick you back up and tell you to keep going! The road may seem long and tough, but the end result is worth it! I've experienced those rough days too...we'll get through them together! Let me know how your doing...or, maybe you just want to leave an encouraging message for everyone doing this! If you have a question for Andy, you can post it here...or just log onto the Infinity Fitness website and get ahold of him directly (www.infinity-fit.com) .

Week 3...HERE WE COME!! Keep up the AMAZING work! God Bless!

David

Friday, January 16, 2009

Week 2 (Part 2) - This Week's Tips from Andy

It's been a crazy busy week, but I wanted to make sure and post all of Andy's tips from this week, just in case you missed them:

-When the weather is bad and you need to get your daily walk in, try going to the mall early in the morning and speed walking inside.

-Try cooking a few days of food on Sunday when you have extra time so once the hustle and bustle of everyday life starts you already have your food prepared. Try cooking 6 chicken breast, brown rice and veggies and separate them into Tupperware containers to reheat later.

-Try and eat 25-30 grams of fiber per day. Fiber can help lower bad cholesterol and stabilize blood sugar levels so you won’t be on a constant roller coaster ride with your energy levels. Fiber can be found in whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

-Small amounts of calories add up over the course of a day and a week. An extra 125 calories a day will result in a weight gain of over 1 pound a month. This adds up to 12-13 pounds per year! If you start this habit right out of high school, by your 5 year reunion you will pack on 60 unwanted pounds, all because of an extra 125 calories a day!

-Every gram of fat has 9 calories, carbohydrate 4 calories and protein 4 calories. (Repeat this part of the fact) Fiber actually doesn’t count as calories. Keep this in mind when you are watching your calories.

-When buying whole wheat products make sure to look under the ingredients and the first ingredient should say “whole wheat flour”. If it says “enriched wheat flour” it is not the good stuff.

I hope you're doing well! I've already seen lbs. fall off, so that is encouraging! Keep your head up...we'll do this together! God is good!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Week 2 (Part 1) - Here We Go!

Week one is FINISHED!! I thought for sure this was going to be the slowest 12 weeks of my life, but week one went really fast...and I'm excited to see how the next 11 weeks play out! If you've joined me or are getting ready to join me on this journey, CONGRATULATIONS!! This is a big decision for any person to make...but, it's such an exciting thing.

I have to tell you...I'm REALLY REALLY sore after last nights workout with Andy at Infinity Fitness (www.infinity-fit.com). But, when I got on the scale last night, we saw pretty significant weight loss, which was definitely an encouragement for me! Let it encourage you, too. It's one step at a time...no one gains weight overnight, so I have to remember I can't expect to lose it over night...although that would be a nice option to have :-)!

Let me know how you're doing! I'll keep you posted throughout the week! Keep up the GREAT work! It's time for me to get ready for the show...tune in every day...Andy has great tips to help you out!

Lots of love! God Bless

David

Friday, January 9, 2009

Week 1 (Part 4) - Tips of The Week!

If you missed some of the tips this week from Andy, here they are:

-Losing weight is a simple formula, more calories out than calories in. It needs to be a lifestyle change involving resistance training, cardio and of course proper nutrition.

-There are 3500 calories in 1 pound of fat. To lose 1 pound a week you need to either cut from your diet or burn off with exercise an extra 500 calories a day. To lose 2 pounds a week you need a deficit of 1000 calories a day.

-Whether your goal is to build muscle, lose weight and tone or just maintain, it is VERY important to include resistance training to your program. Besides the fact that muscle helps tighten flabby arms and jiggly mid sections it also increases a persons metabolism by about 50 calories per day for every pound of muscle you gain. When doing cardio and dieting without resistance training you will lose muscle mass which in turn will slow down your metabolism 50 calories a day for EVERY pound of muscle you lose. Just think, you could burn an extra 250 calories a day if you gain 5 pounds of muscle!

-Try getting a minimum of 2-3 days of full body resistance training per week. Resistance training is anything that is challenging the muscles with resistant forces and making them stronger. Instead of weight training machines, try exercises using body weight, dumbbells, exercise balls and resistance bands. If you are just starting out, try doing 1-2 days of fewer exercises and lower weight until you build up.

-To lose weight, try getting in 4-5 days of cardio a week to help create a calorie deficit in your weekly totals. Each session should keep your heart rate elevated for 30-40 minutes. If you are just starting out, try 2-3 days of lower intensity and shorter time until your build up.

-Avoid weight training the same muscle group 2 days in a row. If you want to workout with weights on consecutive days, try splitting your routine into an upper body and lower body workout. Cardio can be consecutive days.

We're almost at the end of week 1!! Congratulations!! Tune in Monday at 5:10...Andy will be in to update you on my progress, and we'd love to hear about your progress! You can call me anytime at 479-1049! Keep up the GREAT work!

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Week 1 (Part 3) - Live Life Making WISE Decisions

In Ephesians it says, "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise." It was last night, during my prayer time and devotions, that I was asking myself..."why are you doing this 'healthier '09' thing?" And in my heart I know it is the WISE thing to do. We've been talking about being wise in my small group at Church. People struggle with different things...smoking, drinking, relationships, drugs...me, I struggle with food. That's just me being honest. So many times I think..."well, I can cheat...just once...one bowl of ice cream won't hurt me." But, if I'm trying to break that habbit and CHANGE, why would I allow it in my life even once? Will it be hard? Yes...but, it's the best thing for me...I can't allow what tempts me into my life at all. God will bless that.

I was thinking about my future family last night...my future wife and kids. They are the reason I'm doing this. It's not about how I look on the outside, because frankly I don't care what people think about the way my body is shaped. I want to be around for my wife and kids some day...to be a healthy part of their lives...to see my kids grow up, get married and have kids of their own. So, I refuse to let my "struggle" into my life, even once, during the next 12 weeks.

I say all of this to encourage you. Maybe you're going through the same temptation as you try to live that healthier lifestyle too...or, maybe your struggle is something different. I ask you to ask yourself..."What is the wise thing for me to do?" I promise you'll know the answer right away...it may not be the answer you like...but, it's the answer that will stretch you as a person and push you on to a bright future!

If you ever have questions for my trainer, Andy, he's SUPER helpful! He works at Infinity Fitness in Westerville...and he'd love to give you tips and answer any questions. Their website is www.infinity-fit.com! If you ever wanna share struggles or GREAT news with me, I'm hear to listen...and it doesn't necessarily have to do with eating and excercise. We'll be each other's cheerleaders...that's why this blog is here. God bless you! Here's that verse again...I LOVE it:

"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise"

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Week 1 (Part 2) - I'm SO Sore

Last night was my first workout with Andy...and I'm definitely feeling it today! It's kind of an odd feeling...I have so much energy from working out...but, I can't use the energy...I can barely even lift my arms they are so sore!! :-)

But, I better get used to it...because I'll be doing SOME sort of exercise 7 days a week for the next twelve weeks. Here's my schedule...maybe you can incorporate some of the things i'm doing into your day:

Monday: Weights/Resistance

Tuesday: Cardio for 40 minutes

Wednesday: Weights/Resistance

Thursday: Cardio for 40 minutes

Friday: Cardio for 40 minutes

Saturday: Weights/Resistance
Cardio for 20 minutes

Sunday: Cardio for 40 minutes

At first, I thought that working out 7 days a week would be impossible, but when I look at the schedule it's really not that bad. It's only 40-60 minutes of my day. I don't know about you but I have had days where I have wasted more time than that...and If I can waste 40-60 minutes a day, I can definitely find time to improve my health! Even if you have kids in the home...there's the option of early morning workouts or later evening workouts...there's always time to better your health! I hope day TWO is going well for you! Keep me posted on things are going! You can leave comments here, email me (david@1049theriver.com), or call me in the studio 614-479-1049! If you ever get tired, worn out, or discouraged I hope you know that you have me cheering you on...and of course God, who is smiling at your effort to better the body He has given you! Keep up the GREAT work!

Monday, January 5, 2009

Week 1 (Part 1) - Starting A NEW Life

So, it's day number 1 of a "Healthier '09"! Doubts and struggles fill my mind, as I'm sure they are filling yours if you have decided to join me on this crazy journey! But, those doubts and struggles are normal...and that's why God has given us each other...and that's why I've created this blog. An opportunity for me to talk and share my thoughts with you...and for you to talk to other people around central Ohio making a positive change in their life too! This is more than exciting for me...and I hope you feel the same way too!

Yesterday, my personal trainer (Andy Berger from Infinity Fitness), went grocery shopping with me. It was a LONG visit to the grocery store! He took me through each isle showing me what I should be eating...and what I should never eating. He taught me so much about that little "nutrition label" on all of the packages that I have NEVER looked at. So, now my fridge is packed with all of the healthier foods...but, foods that I still really enjoy eating. Here's my "grocery list"...maybe it can help you when you go shopping too!

Protein: chicken breast (NO breading), tuna, pork tenderloin, Egg Whites/Egg Beaters, Hamburger (90/10 or leaner), Sirloin Steak, Beans, Yogurt - Fat Free/Low Sugar, Skim Milk

Carbs: Brown Rice (GREAT for stir fry!!), Oatmeal, Special K cereal, Whole Wheat Bread/Wraps, Sweet Potatos, Cream of Wheat

Veggies: Lettuce, Mushrooms, Celery, etc.

Fruits: Strawberries, Bananas, Grapes, Peaches

Snacks: Clif Bars (They are in the Natrual food isles...YUM!!)

Drinks: water, green tea, coffee (use skim milk)

See...it's not so bad once you look at the list and actually buy the food! I really enjoy everything in my fridge! I had Special K and a Banana for breakfast this morning...YUM! I'm enjoying yogurt and almonds right now for my midday snack...and a delicious turkey sandwich and grapes are in store for lunch!

Well, let me know how things are going for you...as far as eating, exercising (I work out tonight for the first time with Andy!), etc...I'd love to hear from you! Keep your head up...we're going to do this thing TOGETHER! I'm excited to see where we all are at the end of March! I'll keep you posted throughout the 12 weeks! Good luck and God bless!!