Almost Christmas, it's time for Vacation!

I love Christmas, it's the most wonderful time of the year, I watched Christmas Vacation on Sunday and I've watched it so many times and I still love it as much. As for training, I am so exhausted from my first 2 weeks back at Aldo, that there is no strength in my body anymore. It's good to have a break, it's not only your mind that needs it but also your body. I have two days left at work and then I have 11 days off. I plan to take it easy, I am moving to Laval next week which should go pretty fast, I really want to enjoy my vacation as much as possible.  I plan to go away with my best friend for 2 days next week: Plattsburg shopping, Mont-Tremblant tube sliding, Trois-Rivieres maybe. Do you have any great ideas for me? New Year's is another event that we don't know what to do yet. All I want is to enjoy each day and to take advantage of this time to tell my family and my friends that I love them very much and that I am blessed they are in my life. 

Friday the Christmas celebration is starting, I will show you my polish traditions and I will also spend Christmas at my boyfriend's Italian family, you will certainly see pictures of that too.

Have a great day!

Scent of a Holiday...

2 days left to work before 11 days off...the holidays. I could feel the inconsistent scheduling of my meals coming...no matter the planning... The 24th, spending Xmas eve at Jason's parents' home. The 25th, breakfast at my uncles house. 26th Annual cousin's brunch, in the evening another dinner...and it goes on. Then New Year's! So, my plan is to take the time to eat as clean as possible while I'm home...and at the events...but if I'm eating really clean and disciplined, I won't stress too much about the events...

With the excitement of the holidays and this being a 3 day week, I didn't get a chance to weigh myself or take my measurements...No worries, I will this weekend! Ouff...after a few Xmas meals...

It shouldn't be too bad...lucky for me, my boyfriend, who I spend most of my free time with,  trains very regularly and intensely. He also eats very well...yes, he can pretty much eats whatever he wants...lol...but the important thing is he has a healthy lifestyle and is super supportive of me...which is so amazing and makes it all so much easier to get myself back to where I need to be.

Thanks my love...

Rowaida

Reading, Learning, Doing, Progressing....or am I....

I love reading up on new strategies and concepts when it comes to training and eating well. I like to try new things on myself and see 1st hand what works and what doesn't. 

Working, Personal Training, home, relationship, and in January, going back to school...taking 1 class working to complete my degree. Sounds like a lot, I know...but that's the story of me...I've always been a busy bee. 

But now I'm older...stress is more a factor, thoughts of all the what if's that pop in from time to time....and then the distractions....the mental distractions...maybe if I did less...maybe if I wanted less...maybe if I did things differently when I was in my early 20's...a lot of maybe's but bottom line..the most important thing is to stay focused...because doing a lot or doing nothing makes no matter if the focus isn't there. And when you're busy, "focus" has a way of disappearing...and then there goes the progess.

Now I feel like I'm rambling :) ok...so there's a lot going on in my mind..in my heart....but all's good...

Next training...Saturday!

Rowaida

16 days to go

Tuesday night and I am exhausted, work is taking most of my energy, I need to keep it up by eating right, hydrating and of course training. Focus is important since my daily schedule starts:

6am (snooze until 6h20): I wake up, prepare my gym stuff, my clothes and accessories for the day, multi-grains Cherrios cereal with my multi-vitamins, bee pollen and flax meal.
6h50: departure for work
7h20: Gym
8h00: Shower and getting dress for work.
8h30: Work
12h00pm: Lunch
Between 6h30 and 7pm: Finish working
7h30pm: At home, eat dinner, preparing myself for the next day and relaxing.
10hpm: Sleep time.

If I don't respect this schedule, I won't be able to go to the gym, I can't go at night, way too tired.
This morning at the gym, I used a treadmill and did a great fast walking and up hill walk.
Christmas is near, I need to figure out what type of work out will I do when I won't be at work.

Any ideas?

Agnieszka

3 weeks to go and Happy New Year!

Monday morning and I am ready for some kiss ass workouts this week.  As you know I didn't go to the gym all last week meaning I really need to focus on the next three weeks to succeed in my challenge.

It's dark outside, I just ate breakfast and I feel great to know that I start my day on a good foot and that after the work out I'll feel even better.  Temptations are not present on the week days, but that's another story on the week-ends.  For the next 21 days, I will challenge myself to eat clean....I will have a few XMAS parties but I'll try my best.

Are you with me?

Spicing things up is a necessity...

Other than hitting a 'plateau', what's the worst thing that could happen when on the journey to a better you? Boredom...yes, boredom...you know what I'm talking about...the meals are becoming repetitious, the training is the same and it's becoming less of a challenge...this combined with a possible plateau (or not even) could lead to feeling unmotivated to continue...isn't that what happens to many people when they sign up to their local gym, go regularly for about 3 weeks, then nothing...then it gets too much, or boring, or just plain laziness gets in the way....so what do you do...

My suggestion...take some extra time on Sundays to think about what you want to eat that week and start cooking...food can be frozen and defrosted later in the week...that's what I'm trying to do...is cooking ahead and try to plan on eating different things...I will do more of an effort to change it up...though difficult in week...at least on the weekend, I think...I will try moving forward.

Same goes for my training. I find that lately, I get bored FAST...so I've tried to do different things. One day it's circuit training for the full body, one day upper, another day lower....I rarely just go to the gym just for cardio...again...boredom...I can't stay on the same machine for an hour....Physically I can, no problem...it's mentally...so, either change machines every 15 min or find another activity.

Mondays, starting 1st week of January, your truly will be giving classes again... I will be giving a bootcamp class which I will join in with my class..cardio based, full of drills and other intense and fun exercises...not only will I push my class, it will keep me on my toes...can't be out of breath or tired when I'm the instructor, right....I'm also thinking of going back to the sport that was the love of my life for about 14 years...for those that know me, yes, it is...it's Taekwondo...not to complete...this chicita is too old for that...but to train...it's so intense and the time passes very quickly..before you know it, an hour passed and your drenched....we'll see.....possible for January...I'll think about it...maybe a once a week thing....

In the meantime...planning for the week ahead...

Rowaida

I m alive!

I'm so sorry I had been away for a few days, I am busy with my first week back at Aldo, buying is a lot of work, but I couldn't be happier, look at my face:

This was taken when I was in traffic for 2 hours and late in my first week, oh well! What can I do?

As far as training this week, it's a big 0.  Why? My first week is taking a lot of energy from me and I really want to be able to focus on work and start training next week. I didn't forget about the CHALLENGE of the 20lbs. I've been trying to eat well and since I work on the 3rd floor now, I go up and down, my ass is getting a lot of work out.  I am happy and that's what counts. This feeling is great, even if I don't have the perfect body, at least I know that I am in the process of getting it and then...watch out!  How are you guys doing? How is your training, diet and energy level?

Christmas is around the corner, so exciting!

Have a great night!

Agnieszka

Hibernation time?

It snowed sooo much today. Stuck in traffic for almost 2 hrs heading to the gym when I finally decided to turn back and go home...since home was in the opposite direction, it was simple after the turn around....I wasn't training today...still sensitive after yesterday's lazer hair removal...1st treatment for my legs...it's not pleasant but the results are great and by next summer I will have little to do. Oh, beach...why yes...bikini treatments over...clear....leg treatments in progress...and they're smooth....clear. Stress free...and on top of that, I'll be in amazing shape. Yay! 

So tomorrow, I'm back at the gym. Had training appointments of today rescheduled. One appointment tomorrow....my own training will happen in the AM. Going to be training with Agnieszka! Upper body tomorrow and looking forward to it.

Winter time is when we feel tired, sleepier than usual and lazy. When it's cold out, all you feel like doing is getting under some comfy covers, sitting on the couch and watching a movie...in big sweats and a t-shirt...with a hot chocolate in hand. We all feel that, and we all deserve to relax that way, too....key word is relax. We don't need to be relaxing 24/7...we need to find the time...make the time to get to the gym or whatever physical activity we're involved in. A couple hours a week of activity can go a long way...so forget hibernating this winter...I have. I'm staying focused on getting in better shape and losing those excess pounds.

Until next time!

Rowaida

White Monday!

Wow, what a white day, it was beautiful at first and then at night it was another story.  Hope you all got home alright! I've been a bad girl this week-end but enough is enough. Tomorrow morning I am going to the gym with my partner Rowaida, it's back to business.  Now that I am back at Aldo, I can't forget about my priorities and what is important to me: my health and well being. I want to get to the finish line but unfortunately it's a hard and slow process. Don't ask me why but I've been getting to like wine more and more which is dangerous since they didn't invent any Diet Wines yet, that would be so cool, 0 calories.

I didn't bring any snacks today which wasn't very bright, with the weather and traffic, I was so hungry and nothing available.  Always make sure you have a snack with you.

My first day went really well, I wasn't stress, it felt good.

Hope you had a great Monday, Christmas is getting closer, I can't believe 2011 is around the corner.

Stand still...

What happens when you hit a small stand still? A pause in your progress. It happens to us all. Moments in our journey to somewhere that prevent us from seeing what we want...whether it due to stress, hormones unbalances, sleep patterns or food. The key point, however, is food.

I'm not sure this week I'll see exactly what I want. Am I whimpering. No. Complaining it's someone else's fault. No. I looked back at the last week and reviewed it in depth. What did I do this week that was different from the 1st few. Food...the eating. Though most of it was clean, I did indulge more than I should whether it be having lunch with my cousin, eating dinner with friends, etc...and I know I didn't drink half the water I was supposed to. OK. So no what. Back to the basics is what. Amazing results following such simple eating strategies. So, here we go again. Yes, it's the weekend but my biggest challenge on the weekend is not eating out too much or drinking...it's not eating enough...distracted by other activities in my day, I just...forget...I guess.

Training has been good...so increase the intensity a bit now and go back to the basics in eating and we'll see what happens in the next week.

Meanwhile, I am enjoying the slow transformation in progress...I'm starting to see my shoulders again and my mid-section is flattening out nicely. Looking forward to fully seeing my shoulders and defined arms again...I'm not the girl that's naturally skinning. Fit, yes, but not petite or tiny...curves but when tight and fit, look good and feel good. Should I start thinking about getting on the competition stage again...perhaps. I would love to do it again....but right now, I want to achieve the small goals 1st. My mistake in the past 2 years has been aiming too high too fast. 1st goal is getting to my 'normal' weight. Then I can buy myself a new pair of jeans....YAY! Next...well, I'll set that goal after achieving the 1st one.

Friday night...going to take it easy and rest after having had a nice family dinner for my mom's birthday!

Have a goodnight everyone!

Rowaida

1st night of the events to come this holiday season...

Tonight I had our annual holiday dinner with the team...though members of the team have changed throughout the last 2 and a half years in my position, it remains a tradition. We gathered at a restaurant in Laval that serves all kinds of food...I had a pasta dish with a tomato based sauce...not too bad, plus I didn't finish my plate...ate about half and called it a night on that end...(cheat...well, I had 2 small pieces of fresh, warm bread....yes, white bread...it was right in front of me before the meal came...and for the 1st time since I started the clean-eating, I was tempted and fell...) But it's all good.

Tomorrow is my mom's birthday...plan for the evening...dinner at a Greek restaurant...I already know what I'll have and it's clean. Chicken with a big salad...

One thing's for sure...I will train mega hard this weekend to make sure to burn any of the extra calories I may have taken on...tick tock....Jan. 1st is near...What I need to do to keep myself super focused is keep looking at my board...every day. I haven't been doing that. I follow up every week when I take my measurements and weight...but that board is amazing...lots of motivating pics and words to help me stay on track...

Have you created that board for yourself? What do you do to keep focused? 

Rowaida

HO HO HO, it's December 1st

What a rainy day, so weird thinking that it's 23 days away from Christmas and it's poring rain outside.
This morning I had a fantastic workout with the elliptical, walked on the treadmill for my cool down and went on with my day. It's my last week at the Bouclair's head office, only 4 months ago I started there and people had been great and welcomed me as one of their own and now I am leaving them again. Monday, it's a new start for me, I m going back to Aldo....very exciting! A new challenge awaits me which gave me a roller coaster of emotion, from giving my resignation letter to my last two weeks with a lot of work to do to make sure that the person replacing me feels like a walk in the park. With all this going on, I still had to go to the gym, make sure I eat right and pace myself with one day at the time.

I went shopping tonight for my last Bouclair shopping before I have to go give back my purchase card.

Here is a nutcracker that I bought as a souvenir since I was taking care of distributing the Christmas collection, this nutcracker cost me a lot of stress with delayed receptions and other problems....

Tomorrow it's time for my lower body but with my Bouclair Christmas party on Friday, I hope my legs will be up for the dancer floor.

A message from Agnieszka and Rowaida: Please don't drink and drive....be responsible!