Inspiration Everywhere!

I'm trying to pull inspiration everywhere I can find...

I have a vision and what I have to fight are inner battles against things that weigh me down. 

As you know, its been a tough last month or so for me in terms of sticking to a diet and a workout regimen. Although I must say, I did pretty well with P90X -- classic to lean program. On the other hand, 80% is nutrition. That's where my battle is.

Mental strength. 

That is what I need -- motivation from every angle, is what I am trying to find.

My desire to reach my goals -- yes, it is strong, and yet I am human and know my weaknesses...

Think like an athlete. I always remind myself...

Therefore, I've been feeding my soul, my heart, my mind with words of wisdom, inspiration and motivation from people I admire... 

So, let me share a few with you!

1. Jamie Eason - always has been my favorite fitness model/athlete! I love her take on faith, fitness and family! One great person -- great example for many of us!

2. Kelsey Byers - transformed her body and living the life she always dreamed of! A down to earth next door gal now, fitness model and Labrada spokesmodel (I've always ENJOYED Lean Body shakes '04 till today -- although I must say, Shakeology is a favorite of mine too!)

3. Angelica Haas - amazing transformation!! real gal, big dreams and I know she will make it!

4. Ashley Conrad - true athlete!! I love her body and her straight forward advice about fitness/ nutrition and how she is an advocate against animal cruelty!

5. Christie Wellington - strong triathlete (someone who trains hard and is mentally strong!)

6. Dusti Hillis - a new found fitness buddy! I love her daily posts/ encouragement and truly look forward to her transformation!

All of them are found on Facebook -- LIKE their page and be inspired!!

Let me end this post with a video that I found on Ashley Conrad's FB page that is inspiring!!

It's called: How Great I Am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6xLYt265ZM&feature=player_embedded

Okay people, back to what I was doing... 

Just got off the spin bike for 40 minute hill repeats...

After watching Ashley Conrad's video where she was so darn tired from training #1 of the day -- she still mustered the strength (physically and mentally) to do workout #2 -- running the hills of Hollywood ---> I will shortly be off for a run around town! 

That's what I'm talking about!

KNOWING I CAN!

A Lull... Realize Its Not Reason Enough.

There has been such a lull... I know.

Reason is not reason enough and that is the truth!

But it is what it is....

Where to start...

Coming back from Hawaii was good, but not great -- just in terms of my mindset on how I was going to tackle my fitness & nutrition...

Yes, I hired the best nutritionist, but just like anything -- you can have your tools, but if you don't use them as advised it does not allow you to reap it's benefits.  That is what happened to me...

Sad to be sharing this with whoever reads this because truthfully -- who wants to share about their weaknesses... But then again, I want to be as honest as I can. I know I'm not alone in this journey. In fact, I am confident that many go through this... A strong start -- feeling you can continue on, but somehow a wall hits and it just gets even more challenging.

So, I had the plan with me. I have my tools -- nutrition, fitness regimen, etc... But being an emotional eater stress just started to get to me! Work-wise and some personal -- both just don't help. And when that happens, yes -- I have a tendency to go back to my old habits... Reaching for a little 'cheat' here and there... Especially when I allow myself one cheat -- that becomes two, three... Before I know it, its been weeks since the first time I gave myself that room to do whatever I wanted. So bottom line of my road block "No one can over-exercise a bad diet!"

Fast forward today, I have gained a few pounds 3 lbs to be exact... So, yes I am 139 lbs. Some might say -- gosh, 3 lbs is not a lot. But it is especially when you can tell by the way your clothes fit or how you look. I also feel bloated. I know for sure it is a result of processed food and sugar! What else?!?!

However, I realize that I have it in me to succeed. I know that I can do this. I've done it before, and I know I just have to dig deeper to reach my goals... I have to decide!

Currently brainstorming on what my new game plan is... Drawing strength from avenues that are available to me such as personal friends, fitness friends on FB, my (oh so patient) nutritionist, my family (of course), athletes I admire and truly (TRULY) my Lord Who I know has blessed me with this desire to look and feel my best and has equip me with the tools I need -- strength included.

Anyway, as I continue to think --- one of the ways for me to be accountable is by sharing progress pictures... I am still thinking about it -- so let me think and I shall share what my plan will be. Haha :) Wish me luck, please pray for me and if you have any suggestions -- please send them my way. I will appreciate all the input I can get!

Love, blessings and strength to everyone!
Katrina :)

Pleased to Meet You!

I'm not an expert blogger.

I'm just sharing my experiences as I pursue my passion for health & fitness with whoever wants to read my ramblings... 

Hoping that it will help my readers get motivated to choose a more active and more healthy lifestyle...

I also know that I don't have followers yet...

BUT I know some people are reading my entries!

Yay and thank you!

So, if this is you -- I would love to know who you are and get to know a little bit about you!

Please send me a message, I'd love to meet you!

Blessings!

Getting Things Done

So many things I want to do... So much to think of...

It's technically my "rest day" which I still have to learn. For some reason, my mind tells me to get moving and exercise while my body sometimes tells me to take the designated day to truly sit back and relax. I must admit, I rarely skip a day of exercise... I think its just my way of de-stressing and clearing my mind. But yes -- I understand our bodies need a break, too!

Today was a mini break. Started with about 15 minutes of Turbo Fire; then a few calisthenics... (Tomorrow starts another week of my favorite P90X)

We got ready for church, but my husband got called to do an acute MI in the hospital. So, off he went... Wish he could have taken the day off... But its okay, he gets to help save a life, right?!

Made him a berry protein shake and realized I was going to be late for church, but something inside me was also telling me to go online and attend Saddleback's online service. This is what I did and I am glad I followed my inner voice.

Then -- chores... laundry (and more laundry, it just seems like a train of dirty laundry keeps coming -- no complaints, just thankful I have stuff to launder), cleaning and then one of my favorites, grocery shopping!

I planned our dinners for the week, mainly for my husband because I am now on a diet as recommended by my very patient nutritionist -- vegetable soup, chicken soup, home made pizza and black bean soup. As you can tell, my husband LOVES soup! We make them heart healthy (i.e. sauteed in broth instead of oil and mostly vegetables with extra lean meat when he requests). 

Bought the groceries, had my next meal and now as I blog I am cooking my meals for the week -- sweet potato, boiling some eggs and so glad I already have chicken made! Yay!

Its only 1615 and I have the rest of the afternoon and evening to do whatever I would like... Hmm... Maybe more laundry! :)

Hope you are having a fun and healthy Sunday with your loved ones!

p.s. Sharing pictures taken this weekend!

My new favorite clean vegetable snack (cukes + *Yummy* salad dressing made with red wine vinegar, mustard and truvia)

Play-offs home game - WE WON!! YAY!

My "CHURCH" outfit I wore at the Clipper game... Needless to say, my hubby teased me about it and truly, I definitely looked like I was going to church. Hmm... Oh well!

Before the game started -- the best pre-game show so far (I think they ought to plan something new -- something more dramatic than the Lakers' pre-game show!)

Bruce & I at the game with our free Clippers shirts (I put this on and I looked like I was about to go to bed. Haha)

Watching the post-game show with my husband (not in the picture) and my uber lovable companion, our doggie, Pebbles (I think she is so cute especially when she has her tongue out while she sleeps)

Today's breakfast (a bit late... Sort of brunch, but I was not in the mood to eat earlier... I wonder why)

Before heading out the door in my favorite bathroom (you can still see the toothbrushes on the side -- why not promote brushing your teeth, too - yah?)

On my way home from the store... What a gorgeous day!

Mahalo

I just wanted to share some pictures from our recent trip...

We had a fun time -- relaxing, exercising, vegetating and just soaking up the aloha...

Snapped this picture of the Hawaii sky while taking a break sitting at a bus stop 

Gloomy morning at around 10 am in Waikiki (while out for a jog)

My husband hitting golf balls at the driving range (I have not learned how to play golf)

Took a picture of this gal who ran so fast I could not even take a closer pic! There are so many people out running at all times of the day. Inspires me to do the same whenever we are in town.

No make-up, so what?! :P Taking a 'progress pic' c/o my husband... lol! Oh, the torture he goes through when taking these progress pictures. Haha.

Getting ready to leave but wanted to take a pic of us (right after he awakes from his restful afternoon snooze)... He obviously did not want a picture of him then!

Another progress pic.. Not feeling to good with my diet the past two weeks, plus some cheats (Souplantation one time; more nuts than I should have had and a couple dole twists while in Hawaii)... Had to get proof of what eating outside of my plan has done. ;)

Strolling down Waikiki (okay... so my husband says my arms are bigger than his?!?! not sure how to take this -- he keeps 'crying' about me and my desire to build some muscles... what do you think!?) --- Okay, 15 minutes after I blogged; then, teased me non-stop about my arms we decided to measure... I guess he is right, I have big arms! Not so sure about this... but his measures 12.5 inches and mine measures 12. Thoughts?!?! My conclusion is I just have to shed the fat to let my muscles look good! 

Last day in Oahu, my legs did not want to run... It needed more variety; thus, a visit to the local gym! Had to snap a pic in one of the most odd places. Ha!

Walking back to get a Veggie Delight sub for my hubby -- beautiful sky, eh?

The night before, I prepared my some meals for the flight -- this is oatmeal/ egg whites and unsweetened cocoa... Its actually pretty good! 

Mahalo for checking in!

Reminders to PUSH

Sunday morning, still got Paradise Paralysis on my back...

What I'm doing? 

Interacted on my FB pages -- encouraged my groups and sought encouragement from them...

Scrolled through motivational messages to remind me to keep pushing.

Its yes, 0920 as I type this. Same time as yesterday when I had to do the same thing...

But I gotta do what needs to be done!

PUSH myself to MOVE!

I know I have it in me...

I can almost taste it...

Just have to give it my ALL, nothing less!

Mahalo for stopping by!

Big Dreams? No Sweat! Read on...

My morning started a bit rough.

A blessing, nonetheless... As it allowed me to be at the right place at the right time.

Now to shake off the paradise paralysis that tried to take over...

Off for a run while tuning in to my favorite podcast by Charles Stanley (www.intouch.org)...

Today's topic "The Thrill of Trusting God"

... A few steps in and I am thinking of all these goals and dreams I have...

Charles Stanley talked about David and Goliath...

How others were focused on Goliath's size, armor and strength

While David focused on God's power 

Looking at the giant that Goliath was and seeing him a dead man, defeated...

David's faith in the Lord -- knowing he was strong enough to conquer this beast... because of God, he was able to do just that...

Wow.

Hearing that story made me reflect on my life --- the triumphs had, the challenges I face and the dreams I have...

Oftentimes, they seem so BIG! So daunting!

Can seem so overwhelming...

Listening to this today, woke me up to the truth that 

Yes, life goes on with its ups and downs...

Yes, I have BIG dreams and ambitions...

But through it all, I should NOT WORRY and rest my heart in knowing that...

Even with ALL of life's challenges, struggles and seemingly unattainable dreams...

Nothing can ever compare to the God I serve...

HE IS BIGGER THAN ALL OF THAT PUT TOGETHER!

Again... Wow...

Now, tying this into my blog --- As cheezee (I know, I love using this adjective!) as it may sound, it made me think of why I am not just passionate about getting fit and healthy... But also about helping others defeat their food addictions that can lead them to depression, self pity, hopelessness, unhappiness, etc...

And I realized that because I know how it feels to be in that state! During those times of being unhealthy -- having bad habits (of reaching for the cookie jar too many times), I experienced all those negative emotions that I know are not God's plan for my life.

He made us to love and enjoy the lives He has blessed us with. 

Changing my life one step at a time towards a healthier me has allowed me to see life in a different light... I am a happier person and definitely more positive. I am confident the Lord is glad I made those changes...

I want to help others who are in that same place I was once in... So that we can FULLY enjoy God's blessings in our lives!

p.s. If that is YOU, email me... I'd love to help you in your fitness journey!

This is where I was running this afternoon as I listened to the podcast while reflecting on my life...