Wednesday, February 29, 2012

A little more info on Tai Cheng

http://www.theturboreview.com/workout-reviews/tai-cheng/

The above link has an article reviewing the Tai Cheng program I wrote about yesterday.  It seems more like a press release from Beachbody but at the end there was some interesting information.

"Who is Dr. Mark Cheng?

He is a world renowned kettlebell trainer who studied under one of Bruce Lee’s greatest disciples, and now leads workshops in strength and fitness training around the work. He specializes in rehabilitative fitness, RKC System strength training, and Chinese martial arts through his private medical institute in California. Trained in Chinese traditional medicine and an accomplished master of Tai Chi, Dr. Mark Cheng brings his knowledge, experience, and expertise to others through a variety of different venues. Through all of them however he approaches his practice in a clear, simple, and focused manner, helping others achieve tangible results while respecting and taking care of their bodies.
What are the results that you will be able to expect through Tai Cheng? Think of your body as a car. While the engine and the gasoline are what people traditionally focus on, Tai Cheng will work at strengthening the frame of the car, the actual body on which the engine sits so that it can take corners at high speeds, respond to commands with fluid ease and support the strain demanded of it by a powerful engine. Were you to focus solely on strength then it would be akin to placing a powerful engine in a weak car, resulting in injury and ruin. Instead, Tai Cheng will improve your health and general fitness by focusing on your balance, flexibility, core strength, power, and joints.
Dr. Mark Cheng’s Tai Cheng is not a revolutionary approach to fitness because it is in fact an ancient one, a method perfected over thousands of years and which has helped its practitioners achieve long lasting health that will sustain them not just for a year or two of peak conditioning but for the rest of their long lives"

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Tai Chi-ish?

The people who brought you PX90, Insanity, and Turbo Jams are now in the Tai Chi business.  They have created their own Tai Chi workout to promote weight loss.  This program is not yet available but should be sometime in March.

Here are two sites where you can learn more about it:

http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/tai-cheng-workout.do

and here (there are two sites and a facebook page-very confussing)

https://plus.google.com/100868896754394810968/posts#100868896754394810968/posts

Here is a video of the creator of the program explaining what it is all about




and if you go to the "Tai Cheng" Facebook page you can see a success story about a woman who lost 20lbs in 90 days




I also wanted to share a good article on something called "adrenal fatigue"  which apparently people who have high cortisol levels have.  Hopefully, this will help someone out there.
http://experiencelife.com/article/fending-off-adrenal-fatigue/

Monday, February 27, 2012

Dr. Oz Belly Blasting Suppliments

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/best-belly-blasting-supplements

I don't have time to write about this but check out the link for yourself.  Sorry!

quick update

This week is already turning out to be interesting.
The prescription advil the doc prescribed is really helping.  I am far from 100% but my back is getting better quickly.
My husband's boss has been going through a rough 3 years.  His wife has been battling liver cancer.  She is now in home hospice care.  We are being told that this week might be her last week on this earth.  It is  horrible since they have 3 children.  At any rate, this could end up being a pretty intense week for us.  Please pray for this lady named Chris.  And, note to our karate friend, this week or next week we might be out of the dojo.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

bad back

My husband made me go to the doctors this morning.  Doc said that I pulled all the muscles in my lower back.  It will take a week to heal.  I am on prescription Advil and I am not allowed to do anything for the next week.  He felt my chiropractic appointment on Monday did this.  I would tend to agree. 
I am frustrated and upset that my karate will be put on hold for the next week since I haven't been able to do anything since Feb. 20. 

So for the next few days I will just be sitting on the sofa and waiting......

Friday, February 24, 2012

Friday, Feb. 24, 2012

On Monday night I did something to my back.  Not sure what because I was just walking around the house and suddenly I felt something just give.  Every day this week I kept thinking it would get better.  So far it has not.  This morning it is so bad that I can't actually move.

I am not going to my chiropractor because I sorta suspect that my Monday morning chiropractors visit is what started this whole thing.  But, that is besides the point.  Now I am just trying to keep a heating pad on it and stretch when I can.  I don't think that I will be able to go to karate tomorrow morning and that is really making me angry.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

My future Sister-in-law's weight loss part 2

Saw my future sister-in-law today.  As you remember she had lost 9lbs in 2 weeks.  When I initially asked her how she had done it her response was eating healthy, exercise, and stopped drinking. 
I can now laugh at this formula.

She came over today and volunteered that not only had her weight loss stopped but she has gained back what she had lost.  Why?  Because how she really lost her weight was by cutting her calories to 800 a day (if you know anything about nutrition this is dangerous and puts your system into starvation mode).  And, after she could no longer handle the 800 calories a day diet, she started eating a lot more and gained her weight back. 

The woman works in medicine.  She knows the dangers of dropping your daily calories that low especially since she is 5'10" and has an active job.  She just gave me a goofy grin like she knew some big secret that I didn't.  In the 1990s, I went on a hospital run diet that kept your calories at 900 a day.   I did lose weight quickly but I gained it back quickly as well.  Keeping your calorie in take that low is setting yourself up for rebound weight.  And, a future messed up metabolism.


I wish her luck with her weight loss efforts. Hopefully in future she will make healthier choices.

I am trying a new approach to trying to lose weight.  It is not a huge change.  It is just going to be a series of small changes.  This week I am tracking calories.  I swore I wouldn't do that but I have given in and started doing it.  Normally, tracking calories/points can make me crazy.  But, I am trying to have a more relaxed approach this time.  Right now I am just trying to get a baseline of what is going on.  After I get that information over a week or two, I will then determine the next step.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

better

Since Sunday I feel totally better.  I don't understand what happened to me last week. But, I am glad to things are back to normal.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012

So, since Wednesday I have felt odd off and on.  At times it has felt like blood sugar problems.  I have given up sugar since then and have increased my protein.  I think that I am starting to feel more normal with every day.  Not sure if this is something I need to get checked out with the doctor.  I am going to give things a few more days before I decide to go to the doctors.  I hate doctors.

In the mean time, I am really trying to deal with the amount of stress I am feeling about my weight.  If I were honest I'd tell you that I feel a crushing amount of pressure on a daily basis.  And, I don't honestly understand why I can't get the weight off.  I have increased my exercise and decreased my caloric intake.  Not sure why things just won't work.

But, if I am going to survive this whole process I have to keep moving forward.  I've been really working on kata on a daily basis.  While people at the dojo may not notice it, I feel like I am making real progress there.  Additionally, I have been working on my T-Tapp and Tae Bo DVDs at home.  Slowly, I see my endurance improving and I definitely see increased muscle mass building.  Making progress somewhere feels good.  I am considering going to Tai Chi nights at karate and working more at home on my weapons (sword and sai).

So, that is where things are at this weekend.  Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

insight over cake

My husband did something pretty romantic for valentines day.  He went to the bakery that made our wedding cake and ordered me a lovely gluten free cake.  It was beautiful and it tasted amazing.  But, now I am sick as a dog from it.  This is happening more and more often to me.  I can't eat grains and sugar seems to be making me really ill all the time as well.

This brings back two very distinct memories for me.  The first is from when I was about 4 yrs old and in a hospital.  My mother had given me an ice pop one day and I passed out, went into convulsions, and woke up in a hospital hours later.  The doctors really didn't understand what was wrong with me but all they could tell my parents was that I had some sort of problem with sugar and not to feed it to me any more.  Thus began the next 15 years of my life literally not eating sugar except when I could sneak it without my parents knowing.  Most people binge drink in college.  I ate sugar coated cereal because that seemed like the more taboo thing to do.

The next memory is from my late 20's.  I was newly married and still doing karate.  My weight was starting to get totally out of control and I felt terrible all of the time.  I was going from doctor to doctor trying to find out what was wrong.  Most of the doctors were total jerks since they could not figure out what was wrong with me.  One of the doctors I went to was an endocrinologist.  He was a jerk as well.  But, at the very end of the visit he looked at me and said something went like this:
There are woman like you who get sick all of the time and gain weight and we in the medical profession have no idea why. Don't quote me on this but your only hope is doing something like the Atkins diet.
He then literally ran out of the room with my mind spinning.

Back to present day and this morning I am feeling like I will pass out from the cake.  The room is spinning off and on and I am actually having some trouble standing up (yet, somehow I can write-go figure).  I know that Celiac disease and Diabetes go hand and hand.  Taking my weight out of the equation, the best I ever feel is when I eat a Paleo based diet.  Protein, fats, veggies, very little fruit, and very little starchy carbs.   Today I am realizing that my health has to be more important than my weight.

I have to stop eating sugar.  I just have to accept this about myself.
I have to eat fats and protein.  Yes, I know many of you are from the old school of low fat eating.  That only makes me feel ill.  So, if you are a friend of mine please keep your opinions to yourself and do some reading on the new thinking in nutrition regarding fats.

Once I get myself feeling well again I will worry about my weight. Perhaps then I will be able to track calories but that won't happen for a few days.
It is just time for me to wake up and realize that something is going on here!

This article just came to my attention from a friend on facebook.  In it the scientist who wrote "The Runners Bible" is now telling people not to eat carbohydrates.
http://www.timeslive.co.za/lifestyle/2012/02/05/sorry-but-carbo-is-really-a-no-no

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

totally frustrated

My future sister-in-law posted on facebook today that she has lost 14lbs. in two weeks.  Really?!

I am beyond frustrated.  I don't know what my future sister-in-law is doing to lose her weight,but I sure want to know.  Hopefully she will respond to the email I sent her asking for details.  If I find out anything interesting I will definitely share it with you.

It has been suggested by a certain person in my life that I am still eating a ton of food since I am not losing weight.  That is NOT true.  In fact, I have cut back so much that I basically walk around hungry all day long.  It is a pretty miserable way to live but I am willing to do it in order to achieve my goals.  It is true that I am not keeping a food journal or counting calories/points but being hungry due to not eating much is the same as cutting calories back.  The bottom line is that I am really trying and just not seeing results.  I don't know why.

This has been effecting me hugely psychologically.   I am depressed, frustrated, and upset.  But, I have to pick myself up and keep trying.  Nothing else you can do.  Ultimately, failure is not an option.

Update

My future sister-in-law wrote back to me.  Here is her equation for losing 12lbs in two weeks.  Eating healthier, working out, and stopped drinking.  I am going to start drinking in order to stop.  It is the only thing I am not doing per her equation.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Slimpod update

The big suggestion that Sandra (the slimpod lady) had for me was to change when I was listening to the Slimpod. I had mistakenly been under the impression that I had to listen to it in bed right before sleep.  That doesn't work great for me because that is when my husband, two dogs, and our cat seem to jump on and off of the bed until they all settle down and sleep.  So, while I have been faithfully listening to the Slimpod, I wasn't able to really go into trance and get the full benefit of the program. 

The biggest problem that I have been having was knowing when I had eaten enough.  I just never seemed to feel full or satisfied.  Since changing when I listen to the Slimpod over the last 24 hours (listening to it about three times since then), suddenly I am aware of exactly when to stop eating.  It is actually really weird.  There will be half of my food left on my plate,  but i just know it is time to stop eating.  Somewhat magical really.  We will see how this continues.

In other news, we had a good Saturday at the dojo today. Both my husband and myself got a lot of help to correct somethings we were doing wrong.  It felt good to make some progress.  Hope you all have a great weekend.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Slimpod

I just got off of the phone with the lady who runs the Slimpod company.  She is amazing and very kind.  But, she actually helped me to pinpoint what I am doing wrong with the Slimpod.  I am hoping in the next few weeks to see some big changes.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Feb. 8, 2012

One of the great things about Slimpods is how available their staff is to help out if you hit a bump in the road.  I have an appointment to speak with Sandra from Slimpods on Friday about my weight loss.  My weight loss has been slow (but it is happening).  I am going to speak to Sandra to see if she has any suggestions to help me speed it up a bit.  Really looking forward to Friday.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Next 11 weeks

I made a decision......by my 42nd birthday (April 25th) I will have all of the kata for my belt ranking (green belt with 2 stripes; 4th kyu) back and up to speed.  This is my primary goal for the next 11 weeks/82 days.

With the help of my most amazing husband, we sat down and came up with a plan of action for each of the next 11 weeks. This week I will be working on reviewing the first row of the kata called Seiunchin.  Along with this I will also be working on getting my cardio endurance improved.

Now, none of this guarantees that I will be back to the dojo full time by April 25th.  Sensei once again alerted me to the fact that my weight is a huge issue.  He is concerned that I will hurt myself during class unless the weight drops significantly.  We will see what I can do about my weight.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

MESSAGE TO SENSEI

While listening to my Slimpod this morning I heard my little brain say that I have to set a goal for myself as to when I will get back to class.  My brain seems to want me back there around April 25 because that is my 42 birthday.

Not sure if this is realistic or not but I really want this!  Been feeling like I am just floating around because I don't have a specific date to work towards getting back to the dojo full time.  Can you and I please talk about this at some point in the future?  I want to hear from you what you are looking for in order for me to get back to regular classes.

Maybe we can chat about this during Saturday's open gym if things are not too busy?   Thanks!!

low carbing it

Yesterday I experienced the problem that some people have with lower carb diets.  My electrolytes got kinda messed up.  How I knew what was going on is that I started feeling dizzy and weak.  A solution is to have a little sea salt and a  little potassium (small glass of OJ) and let my body figure out which one it needs.  After I did that I felt better.  The weight loss this morning is null.  I weigh the same as I did yesterday but that is OK.  Still down 4lbs. overall.  I am definitely on the right track here.

So, how lower in carb am I going?  Basically, I am having a serving of a carb (my focus for carbs is on naturally made carbs vs. processed carbs) at one meal a day.  I also have a very small portion of chocolate at that meal.  The rest of the day I eat a lot of veggies, meat, and some fats.  But, overall I am purposely eating half of what I used to eat.  Cutting portion size seems to be helping more than anything else to be honest.  Keeping it lower in carbs just seems to help cut my hunger in half.

I don't have this totally worked out yet.  But, I am trying to let my body kinda tell me what to eat.  If one day I start to crave some fruit then I will eat it.  If on another day I just crave fats then i will eat some avacado or coconut oil.  The most important thing is that I listen to what my body is telling me I need.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

observing the trend

Day two of cutting back on carbs and portion sizes and another 2lbs. came off. 4lbs.  all together in two days.  Hmmnnn.........