Jilian Michaels Ripped in 30- Week One

Ok! Five months into the year? I am already planning my Halloween costume..where is the time running?
Disclaimer One- Throwball tournament coming up and I wanted to be stronger for that
Disclaimer Two- I was in no way, shape or form prepared for my ass being handed to me
Disclaimer Three- Really badly handed to me!

I am a fan of Jillian Michaels, you'd know from back when I did 30 day shred. So for the April vacation (which actually I need not have worried about, 'cos the food in the resort just spoiled me out of shape anyway), I started out with the 30 day shred and was inconsistent about it. I finished the 30 day shred in maybe 45 days :P (I know! I know! Read on though..) On an impulse I decided to rent out more Jillian Michaels DVDs. I got 4 DVDs! One week shred, Banish fat boost metabolism, Ripped in 30 and No more trouble zones. I have no idea what I was thinking, I was probably in food coma and out of my mind.
I am happy to say that I had to return the first two due to me working on Ripped in 30. Some other comatose idealist (a prayer for their soul and body) had placed them on hold so it went back to library. :P

So Week One! Having done 30 day shred program, I was mentally prepared for it to be trippy, but boy was I underestimating! This program comes in 3 circuits too, with the same 3-2-1 formula of 3 minutes of strength, 2 minutes cardio and 1 minute abs. It was basic moves, getting the form right and it still killed me. I was sweating worse than I did after a 5 mile run, and in under 30 minutes!! It was life draining, mind numbing and soul crunching- meaning it was awesome! I loved it..(Side bar- Kamal Hasan once said that only with the ache of muscles you realize how truly sweet pain is)
While 30 day shred had 2 exercises in all strength, abs and cardio moves, this one had 3 for strength, 2 for cardio and abs.
My mistake- the weighing machine still does not have batteries. :)

One thing that she really stresses is the meal plan, which unfortunately had a lot of meat in it. So I am trying to eat healthier with less processed food and lot more vegetables and fruits. 

Looking forward to 2017

Well I mean I really have no choice! Life is no bed of roses but it is what we make it to be and I certainly have seen proof of it. Lets get straight to it!

1. Fitness goals- Remain same. In fact an April vacation has spurred me into being more conscious of exercise and routine. Also I often underestimate the importance of home cooked meals. Working in a start up, it is so easy to get carried away with the food and not be sure of my portions. Steadfast decision to eat as many home cooked meals as I can and more vegetable/fruit helpings as I can.

I have also expanded my repertoire of home made cosmetics and essentials for skin care and I like that I am in control of what goes on my skin. I do not think I will change that. I see certain new things that will be in the way and I plan on getting them out of mind/way so that I concentrate on a minimal chemical invasion. Some are against my principle, I don't know why I decided on them, but enough said, this year will be the last.

Another thing on my mind- Henna for my grays has been my constant vanity. I want to be comfortable with grays but I still don't have the guts- will work on this too..

2. Personal goals- These are many many!

a. Visualization- Positive reaffirmation and visualization. We are what we think we are. Why not think better of ourselves? Picture ourselves where we want to go and start the journey to betterment.

b. Words- Words are powerful. This year I want to rein in my words. Even if it means some people are going to take advantage of it, let them. If a raised voice alone indicates negation, I am going to be so misunderstood this year. However, my point is to simply express my opinion in a tempered way and not too defensive about it. Being kinder and tolerant while sometimes mistaken for being a pushover speaks volume about personality. I would like to be firm but kinder with my words.

c. Pursue certain pet projects that I have been long incubating. At least read up on some of them and take the first step.

d. As always, read, read, read and know more.

Review: Life Goals 2016- Did I?

1. Think positive-To a major part I did follow my goal. I still have times when I spiral out of control. Slowly getting there

2. At least exercise 5 days a week- Walk Walk Walk. I am walking..sometimes with weights, sometimes without. I ran a couple of times and got good shoes to ably prep me for more running in 2017. Hopefully!

3. Portion Control- No! On a good day I do well, on bad days I just gorge. I tried alternate fasting. No not fasting all day. Basically eating a little lesser on alternate days. The problem was I could not remember if I had to eat normally or eat slightly lesser! And ended  up eating normally and sometimes slightly more than normally! He he! But I WILL work on this.

4. Using more natural and earth friendly products-Yes! Yes! Yes! Ended up making lotions, lipbalms and deodorants. Going for a lot more next year

5. Balanced and healthier food- Happening at a slower pace, but it is happening!

6. Emphasizing health and exercise to my son as well- Enrolled him in Soccer!

7. One of the more important goals- to stop using the laptop/tablet/phone at least 1-2 hrs before bed- Happy to say this worked 95% of times!

8. Read more -for myself and for my son- 100%!!!!!!

I think making this list really helped me! I am going to make a new one in 2017 with some overlaps.

Throwball

I did not know what Throwball was. Let me say that up front. I had been a volleyball player at school. I had played Kho-kho but never heard of Throwball so when I was first approached by a woman in the park asking me if I was interested in Throwball, little did I know how much she, the game and its players would affect me.
Youtube has plenty of videos of the game but it never struck me to look at them before I go. When I went for my first game, I met a lot of women. Different women from different states of India and I would later learn different yet alike in their pursuit of Throwball. For a few like myself it was a form of exercise and for a few it was a respite from the day's work and for few more it was a chance to interact with these women who had become friends. I  wish I had a phenomenal memory and could come up with the exact date and month. I tentatively know it was summer either June or July is my guess. I was hooked. It was a great stress buster and a reaffirmation that my athletic roots had not left me. Yet for all this it is the simplest of games not the gentlest but definitely simplest. You catch a ball and throw it back. Sounds super simple as a friend put it- Playing catch is not hard! To me though, it is wonderful.
This post is as much about the game as the women I play with. These women are strong and passionate. Their passions are varied and I see evidence of harmony in diversity when I see us together. All of us have personalities that are chalk and cheese yet when we play, we play only for the game. Forgive me if this veers too much on the personal edge, but I truly feel a kinship to my friends. Anyone that knows me, and a lot of you do, knows my temper and my temperament. These girls put up with me and that itself proves how much of a sport they truly are! I truly can not count the ways that these women have affected and influenced me in a positive way- I have learnt a lot from every single one of them. A thousand and one things on their minds and they still let it all go the second they step on the court. I truly forget all my problems and worries for the couple of hours I play.
A couple of days ago, we went to a tournament. We were in the beginner category and from the get-go first match, I was supremely confident that we would be victorious. It gives me a great sense of pleasure to say we were UNDEFEATED that day. We won all the sets in all the games we played that day. I was amazed at how in synch all of us were. All the doubts that I had about us performing under pressure flew out of the window.
I have won lots of trophies at school and in college. Yet this one is super special to me because it happened when it happened. As humans, most of us doubt our abilities no matter how confident we were about them before. Then as a sign, come along a few women who argue  and joke alternatively, in the same breath, until their faces are flushed and you can not tell if they are serious or joking when they proclaim they want to kill you! This sign lets you know you are truly never alone as sport unites people that I normally wouldn't have even met otherwise!

Oh yeah! Did I mention we won GOLD?! :P

The slowest run in the history of slow runs

And I am proud of having run that!!
For the past few days I have been feeling like I am ready. Not physically but also mentally.Shaking up the mind and body seemed a good idea. Getting adrenaline flowing..Fight or flight...in my case crawl and amble! It was my usual 4.29 mile loop. I started off real easy. My knees did not give me any resistance but like a woman wronged, it acts up later than at the beginning.
Along we went, me and my music. I hadn't listened to my iTunes for a long time. In the car I switch on the radio nowadays because of the Aux cable being broken. There is only so much mental argument I can carry out in a day! :P I digress! So along we went.
If you know me, you know I believe in tough love. However since this was my first real run in a long time, I resorted to cheating, I ran signal to signal. Every signal I promised myself I would take a break at the next one. Also promised myself that if it was a red I could stop. And almost all the lights were green when I approached them. There were two that came in the final mile! So on I ran.
I took three ten second walk breaks in the second mile. Came back and stretched. I miss Yoga. I should start that again.
Also a plan of exercising twice a day cropped up in my mind since a visit to the motherland is imminent. And we all know what that means- sweets, chaat and sweets! Seriously considering a sensible plan. Since weather is not heating up maybe swimming will not be an option and  so maybe cardio and weights...
So long!!

Life Goals 2016

Research shows that more than 25% resolutions are given up within the first one week of formation , especially new year resolutions. It struck me that rather than resolution, I would benefit from life goals because let's face it resolutions are directed towards something essential. I have been following certain things from the latter part of 2015 and my goal is to simply keep them up.
1. Think positive.  Reinforcing that people should be given a chance, positivity should be given a chance. Consciously redirecting my thoughts if they tread on the negative side. So far it has been my first instinct to dismiss everything with a skeptical and cynical attitude expecting the worst and reaffirming those effects with further cynicism. It changed a little with conscious effort hopefully it will continue to change.
2. At least exercise 5 days a week. Cardio has been a staple during my routines. I have been hitting the  gym rather than running outdoors. Hopefully my knee will rehabilitate and I can go back to running. Till then I plan on using the elliptical and the treadmill. A recent addition has been weight training for both upper and lower body. I can see some results in my arms :). I am looking at other exercises that will help me. I have moved from 5 pounds to 10 pound weights on each side now!
3. Portion Control. Still a huge challenge. I am my own undoing. Fruits and nuts are helping.
4. Using more natural and earth friendly products. I am not turning into a hippie free spirit overnight but am slowly adjusting certain areas which can be chemical free. Food items have slowly shifted to organic or local produce. Of course they are expensive but choosing only a few organic staples at a time is working.
5. Balanced and healthier food. I want my son to eat stuff that I ate growing up. They had sugar (jaggery form) but they were nutritious as well. I remember eating far more varieties of food and vegetables than those I cook for him. So definitely planning on bringing the old stuff back. Baby steps!
6. Emphasizing health and exercise to my son as well.
7. One of the more important goals- to stop using the laptop/tablet/phone at least 1-2 hrs before bed. Reading a book to help me sleep and turning in before 11pm. I am going to be super strict about this since my sleep patterns have gone for a toss.
8. Read more -for myself and for my son! :)

I am hoping since I have been slowly building up to these already continuing them will not be too much of a trouble but its good to be accountable as well and get it out there rather than simply think about it and not do it.

Food

One of my biggest pressure points I think is food. I either eat too much or too little of it. I am yet to find a happy medium without eating until the food comes out of my nose!! I like rice and I also like my home made curd. I always end my meal with curd- be it lunch or dinner. No meal for me seems complete without curd!
Portion control- that is my issue! I am also guilty of comfort eating. Whenever I feel upset or depressed I turn to food. I also seem to crave and give in to dessert after every meal. Sugar, sugar.
Since I've identified my weak spots, I am hoping to consistently do the following
1.Less rice, more vegetables- I usually do this, but I feel I do eat more servings of rice than necessary. So consciously stopping myself.
2. Gobbler- I am a gobbler. I gobble down food. Usually I have a book or I watch a tv series on my laptop while eating. I will consciously stay away from both and concentrate on what I eat henceforth.
3. Drink water instead of eat when depressed or upset- constantly keep drinking water.
4. Keep busy after meal to divert mind from craving dessert.
5. I snack !! Constantly..it is almost like a second meal..heavy snacking! So my goal is to limit snacking to 11am and 5pm. Healthier snacks, smaller portions again.
6. I have stopped sugar with coffee and tea but I once I start with dessert those sugar granules can build a miniature wall of China in my tummy! So conscious reduction of sugar again.
I think these are solid goals to start with. I am going to follow up on them consciously since I am slipping unconsciously!!