The first cycle of boot camp is over tomorrow. Of course, I say the "first" because I have decided to do another one. I am really happy with my results, but also with the women I have met and the trainer, Brian. I feel 10 times better than I did a month ago, and none of my pants fit. That part kind of sucks, but I guess in awesome way, haha. All of my size 8's are going to have to be put away for good, they are so baggy it's ridiculous. I can still get away with wearing the 6's, even though they are baggy, too. I think I'm going to have to get a couple pairs of something to sustain or find some size 4's somewhere in my storage. I'm sure I have them, but I put them away over a year ago when I found out I was pregnant.
It's going to be very exciting to see where my measurements are. I have only lost about four pounds, but can see the changes everywhere. It also feels so good to have some of my muscle tone back. Well, we'll see tomorrow! :)
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Thursday, May 20, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
#1 Energy Crusher = A Sick Kid!
Man, oh man... the one thing that can simply CRUSH your energy is a sick kid! I have been feeling so great, but of course all these little colds are going around. My poor little baby boy has caught a stuffy nose and the cutest little cough ever. He is so happy still, but he is up every 3 hours at night and it is just draining me. The pediatrician said that baby colds last 10-14 days! It has only been 4 days, so I guess we have 6-10 more days of possibly nearly sleepless nights.
Other than that, I'm thinking of building an actual website for Fittsburgh Nutrition and Training (FNT). That way, people can schedule consultations, request meal plans, purchase training packages (to be determined), or join a group work out. I guess there are just a few more things that need to be done before then like trademarks and I would have to think about insurance options, which would probably just go through ACE. Well, in that case, I really have to finish my certification I'm working on so I'm off to study some more. Good health!
Other than that, I'm thinking of building an actual website for Fittsburgh Nutrition and Training (FNT). That way, people can schedule consultations, request meal plans, purchase training packages (to be determined), or join a group work out. I guess there are just a few more things that need to be done before then like trademarks and I would have to think about insurance options, which would probably just go through ACE. Well, in that case, I really have to finish my certification I'm working on so I'm off to study some more. Good health!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Make that last 2 pounds!
Well, I know better than anybody that eating is 80% of weight loss. Even though I eat well, it really can be about what you eat WITH what and eliminating processed foods. When you think of processed foods, do you think of whole grain pasta? Do you think of brown rice? Do you think of the flour and yeast I use to bake my OWN bread? Aren't foods like this "whole" foods? Well, sadly for me, they all are processed - and none are "whole." If they can't be eliminated, you have to eat them very minimally; and if you eat them, you can expect slowed weight loss. I can't STAND that... but I am trying to deal with it during this boot camp I signed up for so I can kick this terrible baby weight's ass. All of a sudden, I lost three pounds. Alas, nutrition can be a royal pain in the ass!
So, how does it happen? It all seems so silly and easy, but it really isn't at all. You'll see that it is pretty similar to a detox plan I used before, but there are more carbs, but only whole carbs in their most pure form. Here is a sample of a meal plan:
Meal 1 (Breakfast):
Omelette made with 3 eggs and 1 cup of veggies (any kind)
1 medium piece of fruit (any kind)
Water
Meal 2:
13 raw almonds
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1 cup strawberries
Meal 3 (Lunch):
4 oz chicken breast (grilled or baked from raw on your own)
1 cup of green steamed veggies
1 medium piece of fruit (any kind)
You can put a tbs of olive oil on the veggies. I use a homemade apple cider vinaigrette that has less oil than that, but nontheless, it adds fat. If you are unsure, just don't improvise. It's not worth it.
Meal 4:
Yogurt
13 almonds
Meal 5 (Dinner):
4 oz chicken or fish (any kind) grilled or baked from raw on your own
1 cup green steamed veggies
A fresh salad made with any lettuce/spinach and any vegetable except onions and carrots
1 tbs each olive oil and apple cidar vinegar as a dressing
1 medium piece of fruit
Meal 6:
1/2 cup cottage cheese
13 almonds
1 cup strawberries
Before attempting this meal plan, I recommend going back to the entry of this blog titled "Detox 101: Getting Started" so that you can find out vital information regarding your own body. I would also recommend looking over those meal plans because at the beginning of each day I posted important information that I remembered over the course of the detox. Please remember from those entries that you are not supposed to drop below 1200 calories a day if you are living a lifestyle. A few days will never kill anyone, but your body will starve and may actually hang on to excess weight as defense. Also remember that peas, potatoes, and corn are considered starches, not veggies. I want to get this posted now because a few people are waiting on this meal plan. Good health, Nat
Disclaimer & Resource Information
So, how does it happen? It all seems so silly and easy, but it really isn't at all. You'll see that it is pretty similar to a detox plan I used before, but there are more carbs, but only whole carbs in their most pure form. Here is a sample of a meal plan:
Meal 1 (Breakfast):
Omelette made with 3 eggs and 1 cup of veggies (any kind)
1 medium piece of fruit (any kind)
Water
Meal 2:
13 raw almonds
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1 cup strawberries
Meal 3 (Lunch):
4 oz chicken breast (grilled or baked from raw on your own)
1 cup of green steamed veggies
1 medium piece of fruit (any kind)
You can put a tbs of olive oil on the veggies. I use a homemade apple cider vinaigrette that has less oil than that, but nontheless, it adds fat. If you are unsure, just don't improvise. It's not worth it.
Meal 4:
Yogurt
13 almonds
Meal 5 (Dinner):
4 oz chicken or fish (any kind) grilled or baked from raw on your own
1 cup green steamed veggies
A fresh salad made with any lettuce/spinach and any vegetable except onions and carrots
1 tbs each olive oil and apple cidar vinegar as a dressing
1 medium piece of fruit
Meal 6:
1/2 cup cottage cheese
13 almonds
1 cup strawberries
Before attempting this meal plan, I recommend going back to the entry of this blog titled "Detox 101: Getting Started" so that you can find out vital information regarding your own body. I would also recommend looking over those meal plans because at the beginning of each day I posted important information that I remembered over the course of the detox. Please remember from those entries that you are not supposed to drop below 1200 calories a day if you are living a lifestyle. A few days will never kill anyone, but your body will starve and may actually hang on to excess weight as defense. Also remember that peas, potatoes, and corn are considered starches, not veggies. I want to get this posted now because a few people are waiting on this meal plan. Good health, Nat
Disclaimer & Resource Information
Friday, April 30, 2010
Boot Camp - The last 5 pounds...
So, I have started attending a boot camp here in Pittsburgh. I always wanted to have my own, so now I can see how someone else would approach it, which is interesting. I have been staying right around 137 pounds, which if you remember is about five pounds more than what I weighed after the six-day detox before my fitness training video shoot for Living Innovations (LIwellness.com). So here I am; the last five pounds... Did you ever notice how the last five are the WORST?!
Anyway, I attended once on Tuesday (4/27) and immediately got sick. I think it was a combo of running around at 5:30 AM in 37 degree weather in the woods after 24 hours of rain in the Spring. It must have been allergies, but it manifested into a sinus infection, a trip to the doctor, a Z-pack, Sudafed, and my albuterol (asthma inhaler). I took the last couple of mornings off to recover my breathing and I'm returning tonight. It may be too soon, but I will have Saturday and Sunday to recover, so I'm taking the risk. I have super-low blood pressure so I am not worried about returning while on the Sudafed and neither is the other trainer. You should always seek your dr's advice before exercising on medicine (especially cold medicine!!!!).
We'll see how I like the evening class. Normally, I like to do the mornings because both Dave and Dawson are asleep while I'm gone so I'm not missing out on any time with them. Since it's Friday night, though, I have the whole weekend to spend time with them so I'm not worried. This class is crazy! I had to keep reminding myself that I was doing this to better myself and not to quit. "It's only an hour, it's only an hour...." An hour is a pretty long time when you are in hell! We are based in a church parking lot near North Park. We went inside the church only once to run stairs for about a million years.
Outside was jogging around this loop multiple times, sprints, walking lunges, and other torture for medium distances. At the mat we did burpees, squats, hop lunges, push-ups, crunches, planks, plank push-ups, and too many other numerous activities for me to remember to list. They were mostly performed in giant sets (1-2-3, repeat 1-2-3, etc.).
I just want to see if I can get into the 120's by the end of this boot camp. I think that if I kick my nutrition into a higher gear along with this boot camp and continuing my walking and training with clients I already do, I should be able to achieve this naturally. I just hope this sinus problem does not impede my goals. I look good already after the baby in clothes; in fact, one of my problem areas has always been my neck/around my face and I think it changed for the better after the baby - which is SWEET cause I hated feeling like I had a double chin! Anyway, I look good in clothes. In a bikini I look soft and untoned. I want to look good out of clothes! I want to see a change in my arms, tummy and thighs. Let's see what this new challenge can do for me. Well, Dave just got home so I am going to make sure he eats dinner and I am properly drugged for this class, haha.
Disclaimer & Resource Information
Anyway, I attended once on Tuesday (4/27) and immediately got sick. I think it was a combo of running around at 5:30 AM in 37 degree weather in the woods after 24 hours of rain in the Spring. It must have been allergies, but it manifested into a sinus infection, a trip to the doctor, a Z-pack, Sudafed, and my albuterol (asthma inhaler). I took the last couple of mornings off to recover my breathing and I'm returning tonight. It may be too soon, but I will have Saturday and Sunday to recover, so I'm taking the risk. I have super-low blood pressure so I am not worried about returning while on the Sudafed and neither is the other trainer. You should always seek your dr's advice before exercising on medicine (especially cold medicine!!!!).
We'll see how I like the evening class. Normally, I like to do the mornings because both Dave and Dawson are asleep while I'm gone so I'm not missing out on any time with them. Since it's Friday night, though, I have the whole weekend to spend time with them so I'm not worried. This class is crazy! I had to keep reminding myself that I was doing this to better myself and not to quit. "It's only an hour, it's only an hour...." An hour is a pretty long time when you are in hell! We are based in a church parking lot near North Park. We went inside the church only once to run stairs for about a million years.
Outside was jogging around this loop multiple times, sprints, walking lunges, and other torture for medium distances. At the mat we did burpees, squats, hop lunges, push-ups, crunches, planks, plank push-ups, and too many other numerous activities for me to remember to list. They were mostly performed in giant sets (1-2-3, repeat 1-2-3, etc.).
I just want to see if I can get into the 120's by the end of this boot camp. I think that if I kick my nutrition into a higher gear along with this boot camp and continuing my walking and training with clients I already do, I should be able to achieve this naturally. I just hope this sinus problem does not impede my goals. I look good already after the baby in clothes; in fact, one of my problem areas has always been my neck/around my face and I think it changed for the better after the baby - which is SWEET cause I hated feeling like I had a double chin! Anyway, I look good in clothes. In a bikini I look soft and untoned. I want to look good out of clothes! I want to see a change in my arms, tummy and thighs. Let's see what this new challenge can do for me. Well, Dave just got home so I am going to make sure he eats dinner and I am properly drugged for this class, haha.
Disclaimer & Resource Information
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Pregnancy Update
2/10/10 - Well, my pregnancy ended and I left the hospital at around 150 lbs. My baby is named Dawson and he weighed 5 lbs, 8 oz. When Dawson hit 3 weeks, I weighed 142, which must have been from the breastfeeding because I have been eating like a horse! I am not eating badly, but definitely have been eating more carbs in general. I bake my own bread now and I have been eating that. I have also been consuming more fruits like prunes and apricots. These have a lot of beneficial potassium and fiber, but also a lot of natural sugar and carbs.
So, here we are again; but I must say I am very proud of how I handled my pregnancy. It took a lot of willpower, especially with those cravings you have when you are pregnant! Using the doctor's scale, I went from 136 to 156, gaining a total of 20 pounds. I also exercised throughout my entire pregnancy and even exercised every day towards the end. I was at the gym the very same day I went into labor with Dawson.
I will write more later as I have been interrupted by the baby.
Disclaimer & Resource Information
So, here we are again; but I must say I am very proud of how I handled my pregnancy. It took a lot of willpower, especially with those cravings you have when you are pregnant! Using the doctor's scale, I went from 136 to 156, gaining a total of 20 pounds. I also exercised throughout my entire pregnancy and even exercised every day towards the end. I was at the gym the very same day I went into labor with Dawson.
I will write more later as I have been interrupted by the baby.
Disclaimer & Resource Information
Monday, November 16, 2009
Problems with Posting :(
I have been having some problems with my posting lately... The project is complete and I wrote a great research paper that received a 100% grade! As soon as I get the posting problems sorted out, I will get the posts up.
In the mean time, here are some pictures of me at 37.5 weeks pregnant, still working hard and going strong! Good Health! -Natalie
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Disclaimer & Resource Information
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Pescetarian Pregnancy
So, I have not been blogging about any fun new experiments in fitness, detox, etc. because I have taken on a few new endeavors including school and, most importantly, becoming pregnant! However, I am sort of back in the loop now because I had a wonderful idea about combining my three loves: fitness, nutrition, and medical awareness!
In the past, I have taken classes post-graduate in order to further my own personal knowledge in dietician and nutritional fields. I am taking classes now to further my medical understanding of the human body in anatomy and physiology as well as in the nursing field. In my anatomy and physiology class, I was assigned a semester-long assignment where we must collect data throughout the fall and present a final project encompassing and explaining our results. I have chosen to study myself and my pregnancy and the effect of my pescetarian diet.
I was a vegetarian at age 10 and a vegan at age 17. I stayed vegan until age 20 and eventually shifted back to vegetarianism in my early 20s, with a shift to eating poultry and fish until recently. I just have never really liked meat or the reprocussions of a diet rich in meat on the body. Saturated fats, cholesterol, constipation, and many other problems that are associated with meat are not an ideal part of my life or what I want to achieve with MY body. I warned my husband that a shift back to my old lifestyle was always a moment away at any given time and I was right.
So, here I was, 12 weeks pregnant, and couldn't eat meat or dairy. I am now 19 weeks pregnant and have managed to wrap my mind around my once again changing tastes and ideals. Over the course of my life and making the decisions I have made have come with lots of research and comparisons. I turned to research again with even more knowledge now than ever before of the body, nutrition, fitness and physiology, etc. and can honestly say that I can find nothing wrong with including seafood in an otherwise vegetarian diet. The studies of mercury poisoning prove that it is just not there and I do not know if it is a political or financial reason that this has even become and issue.
I guess I never thought it about it in much detail before, but have you ever heard of someone with mercury poisoning? (Don't even say Jeremy Piven because that was proven to be a hoax - he just wanted out of doing the broadway performances! Remember, I am a singer, too!) I certainly can't think of one! Also, we are the only country in the world who makes this an issue. All other cultures, both industrial and non-industrial, live off of diets rich in fish and vegetables. They have longer life-spans and healthy babies, but for some reason we put women in fear of ingesting too much fish while pregnant because of this "mercury." Instead, we tell her to take a DHA tablet (which she could have just ingested from the fish herself instead of taking a processed pill) and continue eating pork, beef, and chicken instead as "safe" protein. This is not just something focused on pregnant women, I just happen to be using them as examples right now.
In the meantime, the farming industries keep crucial parts of the consumer population ingesting their products, all the while injecting the livestock with hormones, antibiotics, and God knows what else and tell you it's safe. All the changes in our society, including girls starting their periods at an average of age eight, has shown me enough not to trust these things. I have one body, and I will make informed and careful decisions about what to do with it. I am not a conspiracy-theorist or anti-industry in ANY way; QUITE the opposite. When it comes to my health and my family's health, however, I am a warrior for what is right and true. I will not tell others what to do or that the way they live is wrong and the way I live is right. I honestly don't care what you do with your body. It is yours! :) Do what you like! Just don't expect me to join you. ;)
Now that I have settled into pescetarianism, I have decided to study the effects of this diet and potential benefits or drawbacks of following such a regimen. Remember, I have not made this switch overnight, I have not eaten cow or pig products since age 10 and rarely have eaten poultry during the past four years. So there are no worries about shocking my system or going through some sort of meat detox while pregnant. I love research and learning and what better way to study the effects of this diet than in a responsible and documented case study including myself and the guidance and supervision of other medical researchers and professionals!?
I am so excited to document this journey! And feel free to come along with me! You will, no doubt, feel the healthy response your body will have (especially those of you who want to lose weight). And please, don't think that processed foods without meat in them is an acceptable way to switch from eating meat products. Vegan/Vegetarian/Pescetarian diets do not often include processed foods. Yes, Cheetos are vegetarian, but don't be an asshole and eat them as a snack everyday - they are BAD for you. Use your common sense! See you soon!
Disclaimer & Resource Information
In the past, I have taken classes post-graduate in order to further my own personal knowledge in dietician and nutritional fields. I am taking classes now to further my medical understanding of the human body in anatomy and physiology as well as in the nursing field. In my anatomy and physiology class, I was assigned a semester-long assignment where we must collect data throughout the fall and present a final project encompassing and explaining our results. I have chosen to study myself and my pregnancy and the effect of my pescetarian diet.
I was a vegetarian at age 10 and a vegan at age 17. I stayed vegan until age 20 and eventually shifted back to vegetarianism in my early 20s, with a shift to eating poultry and fish until recently. I just have never really liked meat or the reprocussions of a diet rich in meat on the body. Saturated fats, cholesterol, constipation, and many other problems that are associated with meat are not an ideal part of my life or what I want to achieve with MY body. I warned my husband that a shift back to my old lifestyle was always a moment away at any given time and I was right.
So, here I was, 12 weeks pregnant, and couldn't eat meat or dairy. I am now 19 weeks pregnant and have managed to wrap my mind around my once again changing tastes and ideals. Over the course of my life and making the decisions I have made have come with lots of research and comparisons. I turned to research again with even more knowledge now than ever before of the body, nutrition, fitness and physiology, etc. and can honestly say that I can find nothing wrong with including seafood in an otherwise vegetarian diet. The studies of mercury poisoning prove that it is just not there and I do not know if it is a political or financial reason that this has even become and issue.
I guess I never thought it about it in much detail before, but have you ever heard of someone with mercury poisoning? (Don't even say Jeremy Piven because that was proven to be a hoax - he just wanted out of doing the broadway performances! Remember, I am a singer, too!) I certainly can't think of one! Also, we are the only country in the world who makes this an issue. All other cultures, both industrial and non-industrial, live off of diets rich in fish and vegetables. They have longer life-spans and healthy babies, but for some reason we put women in fear of ingesting too much fish while pregnant because of this "mercury." Instead, we tell her to take a DHA tablet (which she could have just ingested from the fish herself instead of taking a processed pill) and continue eating pork, beef, and chicken instead as "safe" protein. This is not just something focused on pregnant women, I just happen to be using them as examples right now.
In the meantime, the farming industries keep crucial parts of the consumer population ingesting their products, all the while injecting the livestock with hormones, antibiotics, and God knows what else and tell you it's safe. All the changes in our society, including girls starting their periods at an average of age eight, has shown me enough not to trust these things. I have one body, and I will make informed and careful decisions about what to do with it. I am not a conspiracy-theorist or anti-industry in ANY way; QUITE the opposite. When it comes to my health and my family's health, however, I am a warrior for what is right and true. I will not tell others what to do or that the way they live is wrong and the way I live is right. I honestly don't care what you do with your body. It is yours! :) Do what you like! Just don't expect me to join you. ;)
Now that I have settled into pescetarianism, I have decided to study the effects of this diet and potential benefits or drawbacks of following such a regimen. Remember, I have not made this switch overnight, I have not eaten cow or pig products since age 10 and rarely have eaten poultry during the past four years. So there are no worries about shocking my system or going through some sort of meat detox while pregnant. I love research and learning and what better way to study the effects of this diet than in a responsible and documented case study including myself and the guidance and supervision of other medical researchers and professionals!?
I am so excited to document this journey! And feel free to come along with me! You will, no doubt, feel the healthy response your body will have (especially those of you who want to lose weight). And please, don't think that processed foods without meat in them is an acceptable way to switch from eating meat products. Vegan/Vegetarian/Pescetarian diets do not often include processed foods. Yes, Cheetos are vegetarian, but don't be an asshole and eat them as a snack everyday - they are BAD for you. Use your common sense! See you soon!
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