Sunday, March 23, 2008

Starting Again

"Starting again is not the same as starting over. Everytime we start again we don't lose the experience of our first steps, we bring them with us. We don't forget our beginning, we learn from it. And our beginning gave us the base to define where we are currently, and where we need to go. I just need to keep moving forward. And if moving forward means healing, then recovery is not moving backwards...it's readjusting the speed of the journey....of the experience."

I wrote those words this past January to remind myself that life is what you make of it. For me, focusing on the things that I do know, instead of worrying about the details life has yet to bring.


I'm starting this new blog about my thoughts on food, diet, and eating, because I started to ask myself the question, "What's my thing?", What am I all about?  Yes, I train hard, I love my kettlebells, I love to exercise, but, I believe it's only one part of a bigger picture of reconnecting with our bodies. This is my blog....my personal journal, detailing my daily experiences, for reflection, and personal growth. I'm constantly learning, teaching, and coaching, and through my connections with so many, that relate to this part of life, I'm inspired.

I'm inspired to share this crazy, lucky, miracle about how my relationship with food, eating, my body and training is constantly evolving, for the better. And I can see how every one can start to feel better about themselves, about life, by being happy and grateful, then trusting the rest will follow by being, and staying a positive force.

I deserve to have a joyful life, full of the physical freedom to move my body, to eat good foods, and to think good thoughts....the same as everybody....every...body.


Life is good. Life is joyful. Food is joy. Eating is joyful.


After taking some time going through the last 1 1/2 years of blog posts, on Rediscovering Strength, I was so happy that I had so much information journaled, not only about my training, but my food and diet. Looking back I was able to see how I've changed, sometimes for the better, and sometimes not!

I started my original blog because I would always get people asking me for exact details on what I ate, and how I trained, to have been successful in losing over 120lbs. So I thought, OK, you wanna know! Well here it is....exactly!

I've been lucky to have established habits over the past 3 years that has helped me maintain my weight loss. Food journaling was one of them. And although I keep a hard copy food journal, I stopped posting my daily menu for the most part....that's when I realized that accountability was the true habit!

I will edit and post my food journal, daily, on the first day of the week, for my own data. That will include my daily weight, all workouts...and possibly my thoughts and feelings about the day.
Week of Sunday, March 23, 2008

Sunday AM weight 133.8
8:00am Bikram yoga
6:00pm 45 min walk

Menu

coffee /cream 100 cal
fuji apple 100 cal.
radishes w/greens saute, brown rice/quinoa/chicken, and dressing 450 cal.
almonds, raisins, celery, carrots 300 cal.
large broccoli/cabbage salad w/tuna/mayo/spicy peanut dressing 500 cal.
steel cut oats/honey 250 cal.
misc. 80 cal

Total calories 1780

MondayAM weight 133.4
7:00am 1000 KB swings
6:30pm 45 min walk

Menu

coffee/cream 100 cal.
nuts/veggies/dip 300 cal.
butternut/veggie/collard green soup w/chicken 400 cal.
chocolate mocha coffee drink 400 cal.
pork, beans, apples, beets, escarole 500 cal.

Total calories 1700


Well, I have to admit, I purposely did not stop at the Mexican Bakery for pastries specifically because I knew I would have to journal it...damn! Oh well, this reason is part of the point, isn't it? lol

Update, Monday evening.....I ended up walking with my sister, Donna, 45 min. after walking 30 minutes to the market and back. When I came home I started eating my favorite snack, turned into meal, turned into mega meal....yogurt (plain, lowfat)/ raisins / sliced raw almonds. By the time I was finished, around 8:45pm, a 16oz container of yogurt was gone, about 1/2 c. raisins, and another 1/2 c. almonds.....and 1/2 c. ice cream...whoops!

This is what I know.....it tasted soooo good. I enjoyed every bit of it. I feel so stinkin' lucky to even have the choice to eat food so good! How lucky am I?

Tuesday AM weight 134.2 (eating alot after 6pm will do that to me!)
9:15am Bikram yoga
11:30 KB sw/cl/pr/sq

Menu (low calorie day)

coffee/cream 100 cal.
lg broccoli and cabbage salad w/chicken, spicy peanut dressing 450 cal
veggie, barley, beef soup 450 cal
decaf coffee w/half & half, 70 cal.

Total calories 1070

I had two killer workouts today, and then spent the afternoon in the kitchen. I made barley soup with beef shanks.... yum...I made some veggie soup with spring garlic and turnip greens to serve over parsnip and turnip puree, (photo and details to be posted soon.) I'm working all day on Wednesday and my food is already prepped, I just have to pack it! I'm so lucky, today was a good day....like everyday.

Wednesday 133.4
(see blog post)

Thursday AM weight 136.0
(cool!)
6:30 Bikram yoga
9:00am 600snatchworkout

Menu

coffee/cream 100 cal
med salad, cabbage broccoli 250 cal
tuna/mayo 250 cal
iced tea (passion fruit, Starbucks) 0 cal.
butternut/collard green soup w/chicken 400 cal.

Total 1000 cal.

After the Easter candy/chocolate binge, I kept the calories low. For whatever reason, I'm never hungry the day after choosing to overeat.

I just chose to write 2 things I wouldn't normally write. The word "cool" after my weight, my first thought after knowing I would have to admit that number, was "ouch", but so what....I'm am so freakin' tired of the freakin' judgement I put on myself about a stinkin' number I can change whenever I want to....God....get over it!

And "binge". I've been avoiding that word as much as possible choosing instead phrases like "high calorie"....I'm so freakin over it. I'm just too tired of all of the word game playing for today. it is what it is and I am what I am which is goodness....crazy goodness.

Friday AM weight 133.2 (see post, lamb shanks)

Saturday AM weight 133.4
7:00am 35 min. KB
8:00am Bikram yoga

Menu
coffee/cream
soup w/beans and pork
lots of yogurt
lots of nuts
ice cream
cookies
....lots!

Life tastes good.

10 comments:

cathy b said...

Awesome! Thank you for doing this and I look forward to learning. By the way the pressure cooker is awesome!

Mandy T said...

Hello Tracy,

I found your blog a few months ago through some kb page somewhere and have been addicted ever since. LOL I like reading your blogs and you totally inspire me. Thank you for taking the time to do all this, I can use all of the great information you share.

Your kb workouts are UNREAL to me. I hope to lose 70 pounds this year and will be visiting your blogs for help all the time. I have started to change and have already lost 20 pounds without doing anything dramatic, just eating less junk and working out 3 times a week. I plan to really kick things up now and just wanted to thank you for all the stuff you share.

Mandy

Tracy Reifkind said...

Cathy,

I'm so glad you found me...again! I have yet to announce my new blog, hopefully in the next few days I'll work it all out.

I will be posting many pressure cooker recipes, doesn't that sound like fun?, lol

Tracy Reifkind said...

Mandy,

Woo hoo! Thank you for recognizing the time that goes into all of this...I love it, of course, that's why I do it...in fact I'm choosing to do it twice! Let's see if I can keep up....things are moving fast!

I would say, "good luck" to you on losing 70 pounds, but you already have good luck! Send me your "after picture"!

Happiness Within said...

Yeah, Tracy! Something made me click on your profile and now, I know there is another blog. I can't wait to get new recipes. I am finally getting a Dutch oven and will soon be adding a pressure cooker to my kitchen tools. Yippee!!

Tamikka

Tracy Reifkind said...

Tamikka,

Dang...I'm being found out! The perfectionist in me wanted to lead up to some sort of grand announcment, but it is, what it is!

I'm not sure what "IT" is right now, but, it's not my job to worry!


Lot's of pressure cooker recipes and techniques to come......

Anonymous said...

Tracy, I can't keep up with you!! I can't wait to see more recipes I can use from you! xoxo Jen

Tracy Reifkind said...

Jenn,

I can't keep up with me! That's why I needed another blog!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

LOL You are crazy!! BTW, that was me that deleted the comment, I was trying to edit, but obviously, I can't handle that! LOL