Shoop Fitness

We have all heard of the many different weight-loss challenges out there.  It seems like we all know at least 3 people training for a marathon.  However, there are critics that warn against using challenges and one time events as motivation to get or be fit.  For the average person, with no mental health issues, I disagree.

Most people have a hard enough time getting motivated to push themselves out of their comfort zone.  That does not come naturally for many people.  However, you put an event or an end date out there, and your competitive nature kicks in.  Which in turn gives you that boost of motivation to get started.  As long as you follow common sense programs (no starving or working out 10 hours a day), I don’t see the harm.

They say that it takes 21 days to form a habit (or break one).  So if you train for at least 21 days, you are bound to add something good to your list of habits.  Right?

Some argue that then when the marathon is over, or the weight-loss challenge is over, all hope is lost and people revert back to where they were before or worse.  It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to finish a marathon.  If you work that hard, and stick it out  that long, I doubt you’d throw all that hard work away after the event.  If you compete in a weight-loss challenge, you may be excited for it to be “over” and relax some, but my experience has been that most people stick with it, or just make slight modifications to fit their life better.

I find joining a competition a great way to “trick” yourself into being motivated to work harder.  Even the most fit people need that boost from time to time.   So if it works for you, and you take a healthy approach, why not?

Recently I was asked if I liked the Fit Yummy Mummy program, and why.  Since it’s been so long since I’ve wrote about it, I thought it was a good time for an update.

I started using the Fit Yummy Mummy program at the beginning of August.  Since then, all of my workouts have been based on the program.

What made me decide to purchase it?  Well, although I’m highly educated in fitness, what really sold me was the idea that Holly had planned out all of the workouts for 12+ weeks.  I design fitness programs all the time, but this was a nice, fresh approach that I had not seen before.

I had read many, many great reviews of the program, and also followed Holly’s blog.  Shortly after that, I joined Club FYM where there is a ton of excitement about the program.  I was able to look at several of the workouts Holly posted and give them a whirl.  They were so compact I was able to squeeze them in over my lunch hour IN MY OFFICE.  I just closed the door, changed, and worked out!  Of course I had a little room to move around, my weights and stability ball .

The nutritional program is great.  Exactly what I would recommend to people because it is not excessively restrictive and is forgiving.  The program for both nutrition and workouts is based on the tried and true method of gradually making lifestyle changes.  That is the ONLY way any program will “work”…if you can actually LIVE that way forever.  And you can!

I highly recommend you order your own copy of the Fit Yummy Mummy program and join in the fun!

Please feel free to send me any questions!

Social pressures of eating are a very interesting aspect of trying to stay healthy.  I recently started a new full time job, with some great people, and I’ve really felt the social pressures of eating.  I had been at my old job for over 6 years.  In those 6+ years, I had developed healthy eating patterns, and healthy eating relationships with others.  Something I completely took for granted.  We often had treats and snacks readily available in the office…for someone’s birthday, or because someone felt like baking, or pretzels and popcorn just in case we needed it.  However, there was NO pressure for me to eat ANY of it.  No one ever mentioned it, and in fact assumed I wouldn’t eat it if it wasn’t healthy or small portions.

At my new job, my coworkers and I are trying to get to know each other.  In that process, there have been lunches out and treats brought in.  I’m shocked at how hard it is to not feel “rude” when you are sticking to your way of eating.  The first week I did pretty well at turning down treats.  But, as time wore on, I felt like I was being rude and therefore enjoyed the treats.  It’s really interesting having to train my new coworkers on my eating style and that it’s nothing personal.

This week I decided that I was only going to eat what I planned to eat.  No extras just because someone was offering it.  I ended up amending that to include if I decided I wanted the treat, that I must be hungry before I eat it.  Amazingly hard, but a very important step!  Again, it’s surprising how I have to explain that I will eat the cookie later.  I find myself making excuses, and trying to justify my actions.  How funny is that?

What I have learned is that although I want to be nice to my new coworkers, I am not being nice to myself.  I need to stick to my beliefs on how I should eat, because it’s right for ME.  I never try to tell other people how and what they should eat, it’s not my place.  In the same sense, I should not let other people’s reactions to my healthy eating style make me change my habits.  I need to stay strong and be a great role model! 

PS - If any of my coworkers read this, do not feel bad!  I think you are all great, and your hearts are in the right place!

I was listening to a novel on cd (no time to read) and the character was trying to convince herself to workout.  Then she said the best idea I’ve heard in a long time.  She said that she would start her run, and then if after 10 minutes, she still did not feel like finishing she could quit.  Fabulous!  How often do you not feel like working out, convince yourself to, and then feel great when you are done?  The hardest part of ANY workout is getting started.  There are always a million reasons anyone can think of to not workout.  Why not just give your workout 10 minutes, and then see how you feel?  I know I will use that the next time I need extra motivation!

Just get started!

It’s that time of year when even if you are not big on New Year’s Resolutions, you may be frustrated with your fitness routine (or lack thereof) and what you’re eating.  There were so many social events over the past couple months, at some point I get sick of treats!  I know it seems impossible, but it seems as though everyone crams all the treats that they bake and eat into mid-November thru mid-January.  If we spread it out all year, it be much better for all of us! 

There are so many diets and exercise programs out there that it’s overwhelming.  I notice that so many people just give up because they don’t know where to start.  One of the easiest things you can do to start to get back on track is to keep a Food Diary.  Just the simple act of keeping track of what you eat will often improve your diet.   How come?  Well, if you write down what you eat, you have to admit you ate it, so that often drives you to make a different selection.  Which do you want to see a candy bar or an apple on your list for the day?

The other area a Food Diary helps with is all the nibbling throughout the day.  It’s very tedious to write down 3 bites of this and 2 bites of that.  Or 12 m&ms and 1/2 an oreo.  It helps make you commit to deciding if you are hungry enough to actually have a serving.  If not, it’s easier to wait until you are actually hungry and eat the whole serving.

There are great free online resources for Food Diaries.  When  choosing which one to use, be sure their database is as complete as possible.  I’ve tried some where it seems that I had to manually enter many of my common meals.  I didn’t like having to work that hard at tracking my food and found that I’d run out of time to do it.  An advantage to online Food Diaries is that they can show you how many calories/fat/protein/carbs you are eating.  Or analyze your diet in many other ways such as servings per food group.

My favorite way to record is to just take a notebook and write things down.  Sometimes I’d track calories/fat/protein, but usually just tracking what I ate was enough to help me get back on track.

Try just tracking what you eat for a week and see what a difference it makes!  I will do it for a few weeks and then stop when I feel like my eating is on track.  Then, when I need a push in the right direction, I start it up again.

Good Luck!

I apologize for the huge delay in posts!  I had to take some unexpected time off for personal reasons, and am now FINALLY able to get back to my beloved blog!

Some good news…

I took 2 Kinesiology classes last fall and learned a ton that I will be sharing here.

I got a new full-time job that will help fulfill my professional and personal needs.

My toddler is walking and keeping me on the go!

I hope everyone had a great holiday season, and I look forward to sharing tips, products, and bits and pieces from my life as a mom trying to stay fit throughout motherhood!

The Fit Yummy Mummy 12 Week Summer Transformation Challenge has come to an end.

Out of the 305 women who took this challenge, after a very difficult decision process, 12 finalists have been chosen by Holly and a panel of judges, now the voting of who will take home the grand prize begins.

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You Can   Vote Here!

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Voting begins NOW and will run until  Wednesday, November 5th.

Winners will be announced on Thursday, November 6th.

YES - Voting is open to anyone and everyone - so please feel free to send your friends and family to the Contest Voting Page - just
copy and paste the link shown above.

A message from Holly:  This is a VERY exciting time and I cannot even begin to tell you how Very proud I am of ALL the women who were courageous enough to step forward and make this commitment. There were dozens of amazing women who completed this challenge and their stories will be highlighted for you over the next few weeks.

Prizes:

Grand Prize - $1,000 American Express Gift Card for the Shopping Spree of Your Choice - PLUS over $500 worth of FREE Prograde Supplements!

Second Place - iPod Touch - easily jam with Style to your favorite tunes while your workout.

Third Place - $250 Victoria Secret Gift Card to treat your new body.

EVERYONE WINS Not only have these women come out of the 12 week challenge with a New Body and a New Life - there was a special prize awarded to every single FYM who started and finished the entire 12-week challenge by the deadline.

Vote here for the Yummy-est Fit Yummy Mummy!

“I want to participate!”
Next Transformation Challenge will be held January 2009 - but there is no need to wait to get started.

Once you have the Fit Yummy Mummy System you can begin changing your Body and your Life today.

More Info Here

It is Voting Season - so Have Fun and Let’s Rock the Vote for Fit Yummy Mummy’s!!!!

Check out this great workout by Holly Rigsby of Fityummymummy.com.

Check out her fat loss program here! It is great for busy moms!

I received an interesting article from Dr. Weil’s newsletter.  Essentially, the advice to avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup is backed up with a study that was recently performed.  You can read more about this here.

  I’ve had a lot of success with the Fit Yummy Mummy program over the past 7 weeks.  My goal was to lose 10 lbs, and feel fit again.  Although I haven’t lost any weight, I have rearranged the packaging.  I have lost 2 inches in my waist and 1.5 inches in my hips!   And I FEEL Grrrrrrreat!

If you haven’t checked out Fit Yummy Mummy, you are really missing out!  Go here and find out more today!