The Edge of Beautiful

At the start of the new year, I am being asked (told) to keep a journal of my workouts and overall progress.

I am more than nervous to being this transformation but I welcome a new challenge. Any additional suggestions for resolutions are welcome. Until 2011, I’ll be keeping the pace.

The idea of finding extra time in the day to get in a good workout can be overwhelming. In fact, we’re the only culture that views time as tangible by saying things such as, “I only have an hour,” or “I just lost 30 minutes.” When we have this view of time, it puts pressure on us to do as much as possible in 24 hours; sometimes sacrificing sleep to stretch our time just a little further. It doesn’t have to be this way. Let’s look at a typical Tuesday for yours truly:

6:30am - Wake-up, shower

7:30am - Eat breakfast (egg whites & toast OR high fiber cereal/oatmeal)

8:00am - 12:00pm - Teach classes (add in a serving of fruit or yogurt to keep the energy)

12:30pm - LUNCH TIME!!! Tuna and mayo/ FF hot dogs/ turkey or salad no dressing

2:00 - 8:30pm - Teach classes (celery/apple/orange/banana or granola to keep going)

9:00pm - Grab a piece of chicken breast before heading to the gym.

10:30pm - Get home from the gym, settle down and go to sleep.

Obviously, this schedule is a little unrealistic for some people and that I acknowledge. The point I’m trying to make is that I didn’t even have to think twice about what my day today was/is going to be like. I have a plan. I know what’s going to happen and when it’s going to happen. Your day has to have a plan. The hardest part about creating a plan? MAKING SACRIFICES. You cannot get where you want to be without making sacrifices. You may have to skip a trip to the mall, your favorite television show or even a gourmet meal at the local Burger King. Trust me when I say the intrinsic rewards of doing something good for your health far outweigh the fleeting fulfillment of external rewards.

So make a plan and stick to it. Maybe you prefer exercising in the morning (Tip: Prepare most of your meals for the week, in advance.) You will begin to look forward to your workouts and you may even find that you’re actually getting more accomplished with your new routine.

Lately people have been asking me, “Cara, how did you do it? How did you lose the weight?” Although this sounds like the intro to some cheesy weight loss commercial, I assure you it’s not. After receiving a few emails and messages I decided to do some introspection. I have come up with 5 tips on finally taking over your life and becoming the person you’ve always desired to be. So how exactly did I lose the weight?

1. God is good.- When I talk to people about the process, the first thing I mention is the work of God in my life. I give him all the glory for the courage and strength it took to complete my goals. He has truly been my inspiration and my rock. I am confident He will give you the tools you need if you seek out His hand in your journey and in your life.
2. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. - During my morning runs, my late night sessions at the gym and on the days I just plain hated working out, I kept this mantra (given to me by my #3 tip) at the back of my head. You’re not going to lose 50lbs in 3 months, and if you do, you may see most of that come back by the end of the year. It took me 11 months to lose 60lbs which seems like a long time, but it was a healthy process and its taught me life-long goals to healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle.
3. Accountability. - This one is critical! It’s hard to be accountable to justyourself. I had a coach, that I had never met, from NY that encouraged me, tracked my progress and kept me motivated. We have still never met to this day. When you have someone to report your progress to, it makes you feel accountable for achieving your goals. Maybe you choose a spouse, a friend, a coach from high school or even me! Let someone in on your goals and tell them to hold you accountable for achieving them.
4. Diet and Exercise. - Unfortunately there is no diet pill, diet drink, diet food, skincare, or sweatsuits that speed up the process. Most of these products get rid of water weight. Once you see the 7-10 pounds of water weight fall off, you may notice you’re not losing much more after that. These products aren’t designed to be a miracle pill. There is no such thing. It’s going to take good, old-fashioned sweat and hard work. So pull out those old gym clothes and get going already!
5. See the beauty in the process. - By reading this, you’re at least a little curious and you’ve already taken a step in the right direction. If you want to live a better, healthier life you have to start today. Becoming a better version of yourself is beautiful. During a workout, stop to thank God He has given you the health to do the workout. Also, enjoy being alone for a few hours during the day. Just imagine - no cell phone, no Emails, nobody bugging you to go somewhere or do something. It’s just a few hours for you!

Let these words be your inspiration. Take all that is beautiful about yourself, inside and out, and use it to motivate you to achieve your goals.

As an avid non-blogger, I have taken the first step in maintaining a blog that might be enjoyable for an audience that extends beyond my social network and perhaps prove to be useful for many. Here is a blog that is committed to telling my story, as it unfolds, and hopefully be an archive to revisit. It’s not a “How To” blog or a sob story with no real ending. It’s happening in real-time. This is my life.