Hey....Let's get on with it!!

A lot of time is spent these days discussing

just exactly what we should be eating.

For most people, when they are asked at any one time,

what it is they want to eat,

How often do you think they reply with a

healthy choice?

When you decide to go out to dinner,

how often do you make that decision based on where

you can get the most healthy meal?

I have been so guilty of wanting sugary treats pretty often....

and unhealthy carb filled meals.

I LOVE me some Olive Garden!

Our kitchens have opened up and become places to socialize

and enjoy comforting, delicious meals.

But, here is an important reminder:

Our main purpose for eating is to sustain the unit 

that holds our spirits while we live here on this planet.

Yes, there are many other reasons we like to eat,

but are they true and valid?

Just because we want to bring social and comforting

aspects to our eating, does not mean

we can't make good choices for our bodies!

So..........

FIRST

We need to decide what kind of body we 

want to be living in.

Now, I do understand that some folks are already fighting the

good fight to overcome a physical condition but,

most people basically have two choices:

Do you want to be

Healthy or Unhealthy?

Every time you put a bite of food in your mouth, you

are answering this question.

****

Healthy =

No abundant body fat

Able to deal with stress appropriately

Not moody or depressed

Even energy thru the day

Physical activity is no problem

Sleeps well

Immune system is strong

Unhealthy =

Excess body fat

Stressed out most of the time

Easily set off by trivial things

Tired/ fatigues easily

Not interested/capable of physical activity

Does not sleep enough or well

Gets ill often/easily

*****

I have been interested in nutrition for some time.

So much so, that I decided to go back to

school to make it my career.

In the months I have been in class, I have had some

serious revelations.

I didn't just want someone to tell me what foods I

should or shouldn't be eating, but

WHY!

I have been learning:

Digestion~ You would not believe what your body needs just to get the nutrients out of the food you eat.  Most of us over age 35 are NOT digesting well.

Blood Sugar~ OMGosh!!  This is the biggie, our bodies are SO NOT designed to operate on the amount of daily sugar we poison it with.  This causes an insane number of ailments.  I will be doing a post on this alone.

Hydration~ This is the most important nutrient we consume and we are almost all dehydrated.  If you weigh 160 lbs, you need to be drinking at least 80 ozs of clean, pure water a day in addition to any other liquids....Yeah, a whole post for this too!

Body Systems~ What does your body do with those nutrients?  What makes you feel either good or lousy after you eat something?  What do those systems need to operate at optimum?

As most of you know, my goal is to have my body

fall under the

HEALTHY

category!

If you feel the same way about your body....

Take a peek in your pantry and meet me back here tomorrow....

We've got some work to do and I am anxious to

GET STARTED!!

***

Blessings~ Sue

2 weeks left in the 8 week Challenge!!

Here is another before picture.

This was a couple of years ago

at my Sister, Cherish's.

I had lost most of the weight

but had not begun to

really work out yet.

I needed to do some serious

firming up.

(muffin top, ugh!)

I now finally feel totally immersed

in my new healthy lifestyle.

I don't think I could ever go

back to my slacker exercise or

eating habits.

I see and feel the difference

on a daily basis.

Still striving to do better

during the 8 week

Muscle & Fitness Her's Challenge,

I gave up sugar about

3 weeks ago.

I have actually lost all the

cravings I usually have to

fight, and crave fruits

and veggies now instead...

Yipeeee!!

I am having a problem

with keeping my weight up

now though.

I have been snacking on

more protein snacks like

cottage cheese, yogurt

and more nuts.

I have a snack before bed

which I had quit doing

while trying to loose weight.

Since I have eliminated ALL

the bad stuff from my diet, I

can pretty much eat as much

healthy stuff as I want.

Remember, I am exercising

a lot which keeps my

metabolism humming along

pretty good.

As I always say:

If I can do it, Anyone

can do it!!

I have taken 3 years to get

to this point.

I have made complete

lifestyle changes.

By starting slow and keeping

to my main goal of prime

health and fitness, I

feel like it is something I can

be successful at for the rest

of my life.

All you have to do is

make the decision to do better

and take baby steps to start.

When you begin to see some

results, you will be encouraged

to do even more.

It is not a fast transformation,

but a steady climb.

Everyday is a new day

to do good for your body!!

Allow yourself to have a cheat

at least once a week as long as you

feel like you need it.

I LOVE ICE CREAM...

I had Hagen Daz last weekend,

Then I was back at the gym as

usual for the week.

Don't put yourself down on this

journey....just strive to always

do a little bit better.

I KNOW you can do it!!

***

Blessings~Sue

Launch Day at Prime Vitality!!

~Welcome to Day One~

I am so glad you stopped by

to visit my new

Wellness Blog.

As I get ready to start a

career in the

Wellness Industry,

It just made sense to me, to

start a blog to share all

the interesting things I am

learning on my journey,

and to hopefully

inspire others just beginning

on their own path to

Prime Vitality.

The above photo is my

WAY before shot...

chubby cheeks and

booty abundance!

Please scroll down to the

bottom of the page to start,

then work your way back up to here.

I will be adding lots more info

to the side bar and new posts

regularly.  Please join as a

follower and feel free to share

your journey by leaving comments.

Support and accountability is

what it's all about!

Blessings~Sue

Tired & Hungry!

Yum...

Holly's homemade Crepes!

Still hungry.....

My Dad's

Pancakes...Thin and buttery.

Still Hungry!

 

And

Tired too....

Not fatigue tired, but

worked hard, worn out

kind of tired.

I have been needing

extra sleep...

kinda like I did as a

Teenager.

Since I really ramped up

my workouts,

my body has been asking

for more calories

&

more sleep.

Unfortunately,

I am not eating

crepes or pancakes.

I have given up wheat.

I am eating healthy,

but a lot more protein than

I usually do.

Building muscle requires it.

Veggie burgers with raw carrots

YUM!

I may only be in the

second week of the

8 week challenge, but I

started seriously exercising at

the gym several months ago.

I was mainly concentrating on

cardio and core muscles.

I wanted to have a good base

to build muscle on.

I also did not want to injure

myself while lifting

heavier weights.

I can't believe how fast

my body is responding to the

weight lifting now.

I can already tell a difference

after only a month of

serious work.

My rear is getting firmer by the week,

My arms are building up,

My calves are getting some shape.

It is hard work now

every time I hit the gym.

It is worth it...

the results speak for themselves!

If I can do it,

YOU

can do it!!

Blessings~Sue

Exercise is a drug....Get addicted!

Why do people take

mood altering drugs?

Because they want to feel different!

Most times, they want to feel better.

Did you know, exercise releases many

of those same feel good chemicals

in your brain that some drugs do?

Physical activity also burns up stress

chemicals, like adrenaline, which

promotes a more relaxed state of mind.

My favorite cardio exercise is the

Stair Master! 

The physical benefits of

regular exercise include:

Protecting you from heart disease,

stroke, high blood pressure,

non-Insulin dependent diabetes,

obesity, back pain, osteoporosis.

I like to do 20-30 minutes on the

Stair Master and then keep my

heart rate up as I work thru

the machines. This helps keep

my metabolism revved up.

(You burn more fat..Yeah, baby!)

There are also two more benefits:

1. Exercising will improve your

physical  appearance

2. Feeling better about your appearance

will give you more confidence and

will raise your self-esteem

**

When you begin working out, make sure

you FIRST concentrate mainly on

building up your core muscles.

(Back & Stomach)

This will help to prevent injury once

you start lifting heavier weights

for your arms & legs!

Don't let anything make you feel

like you can not exercise,

unless it is your Doctor!

Don't listen to others who want to

keep you down where they are.

Don't listen to all the excuses in

your head.

YOU CAN DO IT!!

Even if you just have to start

by walking for 15 minutes

every other day.

After 2 weeks, add more time

or an additional exercise.

Join a gym and use the training

offered to new members.

If you are already a member,

ask for some input to improve

your work out!

**

To be the best version of yourself you can be,

YOU HAVE TO EXERCISE!

To set the best example for those

who look up to you,

YOU HAVE TO EXERCISE!

To have the strength & stamina to enjoy

all those things you want to do later in life,

YOU HAVE TO EXERCISE!

**

So NO more excuses,

Pick the ONE day a week you will rest,

then plan how you will exercise the other

6 days of the week.

**

Once you begin exercising regularly,

your body will have a natural desire

to eat more healthy food.

This doesn't mean you will

totally loose your desire for

junk food, it means your body is

telling you it needs proper fuel.

We will discuss that soon!

***

Please leave me a comment

or send me an email.

I would love to hear your thoughts!!

Blessings~Sue